The New York Islanders entered their game against the New Jersey Devils unbeaten in their first two games, in large part to their penalty kill. But the shorthanded special team's units failed in a 5-4 overtime loss.
The New York Islanders entered their game against the New Jersey Devils unbeaten in their first two games, largely due to their penalty kill.
The shorthanded special team units had killed off their first five assignments of the season, allowing a total of one shot on goal.
On Friday night, discipline and their penalty kill cost them as they allowed four power-play goals on five opportunities, allowing seven shots, in the 5-4 overtime loss to New Jersey.
"Just a couple areas that we have to clean up," Ryan Pulock, who played 3:41 on the kill, "I think a couple of entries I got beat on. I guess it was one of those nights where we just couldn't find a way to get it done, and obviously, it was a big outcome in the game. "
It didn't help the Islanders that penalty killer Scott Mayfield was out for a second straight game with a lower-body injury. Ryan Pulock played a team-leading 3:41 on the penalty kill, while Cal Clutterbuck played 3:34.
The fact that two of their top penalty killers, Casey Cizikas and Adam Pelech, each took two penalties didn't offer relief, as that forced the depth penalty killers to step up, which they ultimately did not.
"They hit us with a couple of plays on the power play. We had a couple of missed assignments, so to speak," Islanders head coach Lane Lambert said. "And that's all it takes, is just that one split second."
Let's break it down.
PPG No. 1: Hamilton Hammers it Home
- This goal was just an example of a misread by Jean-Gabriel Pageau, as he was in the right position to defend a bounce pass off the wall from Dawson Mercer to Dougie Hamilton.
- However, Pageau didn't read that Hamilton was crossing the goal line more towards the slot, unguarded and wide open.
- Simon Holmstrom and Noah Dobson (new to PK with Mayfield out) both take the backdoor guy, as this is a situation where Holmstrom likely needs to be higher in the zone.
- Credit Palat for going to the net hard.
- Sorokin seemed to get screened on the shot.
PPG No. 2: Toffoli Goes Top Shelf
- Play starts with all four looking at Jack Hughes as he quickly skated over the Islanders' blue line, feeding a wide-open Tyler Toffoli.
- Bo Horvat and Adam Pelech failed to disrupt Toffoli's shot.
- With Pelech in front of Sorokin, he never saw the slight toe drag, which changed the angle of the shot completely, exposing the blocker side of the goal,
PPG No. 3: Luke Hughes Howitzer
- What seemed like a basic slapshot from the point found its way through traffic.
- You can tell Sorokin never saw the shot, sticking out his blocker well after the shot went in.
- Clutterbuck was a second too late to get his stick on the shot.
- Cizikas going down on a knee provided the first screen, while Alex Romanov and the Devils in the bumper and net-front positions also took away Sorokin's eyes.
PPG 4: Jack Hughes Just Alone In Front
- As Ondrej Palat scanned the ice, he saw Jack Hughes wide open in front.
- Cizikas took his eyes off Hughes for a second as he took a step up the ice before realizing his mistake.
- The pass does go through the blue paint and is likely a pass Sorokin wants to get a stick on.