Islanders Defeat Panthers 4-3 Without Barzal

Without Mathew Barzal, the New York Islanders defeated the Florida Panthers 4-3 on Saturday night at Amerant Bank Arena.

Author:
Stefen Rosner
Publish date:
Dec 2, 2023 8:37 PM EST

SUNRISE, FL -- Without Mathew Barzal due to illness, the New York Islanders defeated the Florida Panthers 4-3 on Saturday night at Amerant Bank Arena.

Nine seconds into their first power play of the game, Anders Lee scored his fifth of the season from the top of the crease after redirecting a Kyle Palmieri ice-level shot at 12:35 of the first.

Brock Nelson earned the secondary assist.

Just 1:06 later, the Panthers scored on a broken play as after Evan Rodrigues whiffed from the low slot, Sam Reinhart scored from the back post at 13:41 of the first.

The Islanders reclaimed the lead at 4:37 of the second period as Pierre Engvall buried his third of the season on a rebound after Alexander Romanov's shot deflected on its way toward a goal, disallowing Anthony Stolarz from controlling the rebound.

Nelson notched the secondary assist.

Simon Holmstrom's seventh of the season extended the Islanders lead to 3-1 at 9:11 of the second, burying a rebound after a Julien Gauthier shot from inside the left circle.

Holmstrom now has seven goals on the season, surpassing his career-high (six) from a season ago in 49 fewer games.

Horvat notched the secondary assist, extending his point streak to three games.

Matthew Tkachuk got Florida within one, 3-2, sniping Ilya Sorokin blocker side from the right circle at 13:14 of the second.

Nelson missed the final 5:19 of the second period after this collision:

He did return for the start of the third period.

Gauthier scored his first goal as an Islander, sniping Stolarz glove side after Horvat beat Steven Lorentz on the offensive-zone draw for his second assist of the game at 3:43 of the third to give New York a 4-2 lead.

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