Islanders drop home opener in a heartbreaking 5-4 overtime loss to Utah.
UBS Arena was amped for the New York Islanders opening night, which included goals from both new forwards, Maxim Tsyplakov and Anthony Duclair. Still that wasn't enough to get past the Utah Hockey Club in an exciting contest that needed overtime to settle the contest.
In overtime Dylan Guenther buried the winner to give Utah the two points, while the Isles earned an OT consolation point.
The pace was high from the start of the first period, as both teams buzzed trying to capitalize on many sloppy turnovers.
Semyon Varlamov and Utah goalie Connor Ingram managed to keep the scoreboard clean for the first 10 minutes, with Ingram making an especially good stop on Mathew Barzal on a 2-on-1 along with newcomer Maxim Tsyplakov.
Tsyplakov looked comfortable on the second line all night, showcasing excellent positioning, poise and confidence.
The door for the Islanders opened when Logan Cooley high-sticked Kyle MacLean with 9:46 left in the first period. On the subsequent power play, Duclair used his skate to deflect a Noah Dobson point shot behind Ingram. Mathew Barzal got on the board with a secondary assist.
Utah head coach Andre Tourigny challenged the Duclair goal for goaltender interference, but the goal stood and the Islanders received an additional power play for delay of game. Kyle Palmieri was robbed by the glove of Ingram after a dump-in caromed into the slot, drawing the shock of the UBS crowd.
After Utah killed off a third Islanders power play, they received a man-advantage of their own after Alex Romanov interfered with Barret Hayton. With just under a minute left in the frame, Lawson Crouse made no mistake and buried a one-timer from the high slot past Varlamov’s glove.
New York and Utah left the first period tied 1-1, with the Islanders outshooting the newly relocated franchise 10-5.
From the outset of the second period, the Islanders struggled with outlet passes and Utah’s relentless forecheck.
Ingram stoned Brock Nelson on multiple occasions, including one that seemed to be a tap-in at the far post. Utah eventually hemmed in Nelson and the second line on a long shift, and Mikhail Sergachev scored on a slap shot through traffic to give Utah a 2-1 lead.
Michael Kesselring took the fourth penalty for Utah by hooking Duclair, but the Islanders failed to convert on the opportunity.
The physical edge went to New York, as they led 18-7 in hits after two periods. Shots were essentially evened at 16-15 for the Islanders.
The home team did not fall flat to open the third period, though. The new-look first line dominated Utah in their own zone before Duclair saucered a pass to Bo Horvat, who scored on a one-timer from the slot making the score 2-2.
After Kyle Palmieri tripped up Clayton Keller, penalty killers J.G. Pageau and Simon Holmstrom rediscovered their magic from last season. Pageau potted a backhand for a shorthanded goal following a strong effort from Holmstrom to get open giving the home team a 3-2 lead.
Utah would answer back in little time, however, as Dylan Guenther capitalized on a cross-ice pass 7:35 into the 3rd on the power play knowing the game 3-3.
Tsyplakov would then snipe home his first career goal from the slot to give the Islanders a 4-3 lead with only 2:07 remaining.
Only seconds later, with 1:54 remaining, Utah forward Josh Doan scored to tie the game again and eventually send the game to overtime.
In OT Guenther buried the winner, potting his fourth goal of this young season giving Utah the 5-4 win, and four points to kick off their inaugural season.
The Islanders’ next game will be against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center on Satuday.