ELMONT, NY -- The New York Islanders were unable to start their post-4 Nations Face-Off slate on the right skate, falling 4-3 to the Dallas Stars on Sunday night at UBS Arena.

Stars forward Jason Robertson scored three goals in the middle frame, two power-play goals coming after Casey Cizikas was ejected for an illegal check to the head.

That proved to be the deciding factor in this one. 

And let's just say the Islander's room did not agree with the match penalty.

"The call made a massive impact," a frustrated forward Kyle Palmieri said. "I didn't see a penalty called before, and then all the stuff happens after the whistle, and they give themselves an opportunity to review it."

Anthony Duclair agreed.

"We saw the replay on the bench there. We didn't think it was a high hit at all. We thought it was a clean hit," Duclair said. "So, obviously, that's a guy we lose for the rest of the game. Not ideal."

Islanders head coach Patrick Roy was pretty calm but certainly got his opinion across.  

“It's never easy when you get a five-minute major,” Islanders coach Patrick Roy said. “I know we played four against five for three minutes, but I mean, regardless of that, it was probably a key moment in that game. Unfortunately for us, we were not able to kill that penalty. But from my standpoint, I thought [Cizikas] hit the chest before the head. It's unfortunate to see someone be hurt. We don't want to see that happen. But at the same time, I thought that was the chest first. That's my opinion.”

After a slow start, the Islanders did find a way to keep the game close. Pierre Engvall tied the game at 1-1 at 3:44 of the second, and then Kyle Palmieri tied the game at 2-2 seven seconds after Robertson's first goal of the night at 8:55 of the second. 

Duclair snapped a seven-game goal drought at 9:17 of the third to make it a 4-3 game.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau thought he tied the game at 15:08 of the third, but Pierre Engvall interfered with Stars netminder Jake Oettinger.

And that's as close as the Islanders would get as they dropped their third straight game. 

UP NEXT: The Islanders host their cross-town rival New York Rangers on Tuesday night at 7:30 PM ET.