Despite a third period Brock Nelson shorthanded goal to put the Islanders ahead 2-1, the Kraken defeat the Islanders 3-2.
The New York Islanders entered Saturday's game in Seattle against the Kraken winners of three of four points to start their five-game west coast trip.
However the Kraken had other ideas, and with help from some fortunate bounces, ended the Islanders five-game point streak, coming back to win 3-2, powered by two third period goals.
The Islanders’ second line of Brock Nelson, Kyle Palmieri, and Maxim Tsyplakov created offense early in the first period for the Isles.
The best chance came when Tsyplakov nearly converted a rebound opportunity after Kraken goalie Joey Daccord couldn’t handle a bouncing shot, but Brandon Montour was able to deflect the puck away.
After exchanging chances on the rush, the Kraken established pressure inside the Islanders’ zone. Brandon Tanev swung around the net and threw the puck across the blue paint, banking a fluky one in off of Yanni Gourde to make it 1-0 Kraken.
The Islanders tried to respond, with Horvat hitting the outside of the net after an impressive passing sequence. However, that pressure was short-lived, as Noah Dobson took a tripping penalty against Jared McCann with just under 10 minutes left in the frame.
The Islanders penalty kill kept the Kraken from extending their lead though, and momentum returned to New York. After hemming Seattle in their own zone, Ryan Pulock found himself all alone and unleashed a booming slap shot. Pierre Engvall chopped in the ensuing rebound to tie the game at 1-1. The goal was Engvall’s second in two games.
Yanni Gourde and the Kraken’s fourth line continued to give the Islanders trouble, but Ilya Sorokin stood tall and the defense kept most shots on the perimeter.
The Islanders finished the period tied and outshot 12-9.
The Kraken came out stronger to open the middle frame, maintaining better possession and pressure. Isaiah George blocked an in-tight, one-timer and Sorokin flashed the leather to keep the game knotted at one apiece.
Matty Beniers and Andre Burakovsky created a 2-on-1 chance, but a strong stick from Dobson prevented any shots on goal.
Simon Holmstrom continued his confident play on the third line, electing to shoot and drive to the net instead of deferring the puck.
Following a turnover from Will Borgen, Palmieri chased Josh Mahura and took a holding minor with 7:35 left to play in the period. The Islanders outlasted the Kraken power play and improved to 2-2 on the kill for the night.
The Islanders found themselves in a 3-on-1, but Palmieri was stripped of the puck and the Kraken got an odd-man rush of their own the other way. Jamie Oleksiak tried to catch Sorokin cheating on the post but missed wide.
Jaden Schwartz was called for holding on Holmstrom and the Islanders made use of the delayed penalty. Casey Cizikas had an especially good chance in front, but Daccord made an aggressive move and stoned the center on the backhand.
The Islanders didn’t create much on their first power play, but some momentum carried over into the final minute. Unfortunately, New York didn’t have enough time to capitalize on a tired Kraken group.
The score remained unchanged at 1-1, and the Islanders held the second period shot advantage at 11-6. Notably, the Islanders also led the Kraken 11-3 in blocked shots to that point.
In the third, the Isles came out strong.
After the third line of Cizikas, Engvall, and Holmstrom hemmed the Kraken in for over a minute, Matty Beniers got in on a semi-breakaway and Maxim Tsyplakov was called for hooking.
Brock Nelson then scored a short-handed beauty, after a stretch pass from Dobson. Daccord was nearly able to poke the puck away, but Nelson eked out a backhand to make it 2-1.
After an accidental collision with Eeli Tolvanen, Cizikas fell hard to the ice and went to the locker room for concussion protocol. He later returned with several minutes remaining in the final period.
It didn’t take long for the Kraken to tie it back up, as miscommunication from Scott Mayfield gave McCann a great look in front of Sorokin. McCann made no mistake and rifled it past the Islanders netminder, making it 2-2, only 37 seconds after Nelson’s tally.
New York and Seattle continued to trade chances, with Anders Lee hitting the post and the Kraken sustaining offensive zone pressure. The Kraken got a break and a bounce, as a point shot from Oleksiak deflected off Nelson and through Sorokin’s five-hole to make it 3-2 with 3:13 left.
The Islanders challenged for goaltender interference but it was to no avail.
The Kraken received a power play as a result, which cut New York’s time to tie the game. Nelson would get another golden chance while shorthanded, but that time Daccord played Nelson more aggressively, and preserved Seattle’s lead.
The Islanders couldn’t muster up any pressure in the final minute and fell to the Kraken by a final score of 3-2.
The Islanders continue their road trip in Calgary Tuesday when they face the Flames at 9 PM.