Despite Late Rally, Islanders Fall 4-2 To The Lightning

The New York Islanders had a great opportunity to pick up valuable points against the Tampa Bay Lightning Saturday afternoon, but failed to do so when the momentum shifted to Tampa following an overturned goal from Bo Horvat.

The Lightning opened the scoring early in the first period after a power play expired, Bolts' Nick Paul buried a rebound.

Paul scored from the top of the crease just 4:12 into the game, with Brandon Hagel and Darren Raddysh getting the assists after completing a give-and-go play. Hagel took the initial shot that Paul rebounded home.

Bo Horvat thought he evened the game up for the Islanders, but was reversed for offsides after a quick video review. Mathew Barzal made a terrific pass to get the puck in front to Horvat, who tapped it in.

The disallowed goal haunted the Islanders, as Tampa Bay was able to bury their second goal at 1:22.

Brayden Point tipped home a long-range one-timed shot from Nikita Kucherov 5:34 into the game. Kucherov received the pass from Victor Hedman, who was given the secondary assist. Tampa Bay took a 2-0 lead on the Islanders.

The Lightning's 2-0 score held to the first intermission, where they also led the shot department 9-6 in the first period. Alex Romanov had three hits in the opening 20 minutes as well.

Point scored his second of the game, this time on the power play, with a shot that leaked past Sorokin. Kucherov and Hedman both assisted Point again, making the score 3-0 for the Lightning exactly five minutes into the second.

Anders Lee finally got the Islanders on the board at 13:44 of the third period. Noah Dobson and Barzal assisted on the goal to cut the lead to 3-1 Tampa Bay.

The assist from Barzal marks the 300th of his career, making him the 12th Islander to reach the milestone with the team.

At 17:25 Brock Nelson found the back of the net on the power play to cut the Tampa Bay lead to one. X and X assisted on the goal. 

With the net empty for the Islanders, Luke Glendening put the final statement on the game with a goal at 19:30 of the third. Kucherov and Hedman each earned another assist on the goal.

Despite two goals from the Islanders late in third, it was not enough to get passed a tough Lightning team who they are chasing for a wild card spot.

UP NEXT: The Islanders travel to Dallas on Monday to face the Stars at 8 PM ET.

LINES:

Anders Lee - Bo Horvat - Mathew Barzal

Pierre Engvall - Brock Nelson - Kyle Palmieri

Simon Holmstrom - JG Pageau - Oliver Wahlstrom

Matt Martin - Casey Cizikas - Cal Clutterbuck

Alex Romanov - Noah Dobson

Adam Pelech - Ryan Pulock

Mike Reilly - Sebastian Aho

Ilya Sorokin

Semyon Varlamov