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Coming off a frustrating loss to the New Jersey Devils earlier in the week, the New York Islanders managed to sneak past the Carolina Hurricanes last night, picking up a 5-4 overtime win.
The Islanders found themselves down eight minutes in, when nobody picked up Jalen Chatfield in front, and he knocked a bouncing puck off Varlamov and in, to put Carolina ahead early. Then as the Hurricanes started to really build some momentum, New York nearly found themselves in a multi-goal deficit, with Dmitry Orov hitting a post.
The Islanders really struggled to get anything going at all through a lot of the frame, not testing Pyotr Kochetkov much. However, with just two minutes to go in the period, Mathew Barzal fed a great pass to the front of the net, where a perfect redirection from Bo Horvat put the puck past Kochetkov to tie the game before the first intermission.
Carolina jumped right back ahead only two minutes into the second period though, as Jordan Staal got to a rebound in front and beat Varlamov. It was a really rough frame from there, with the team getting just about nothing going and the Hurricanes fully taking over the period. Then when Mike Reilly took a penalty with five minutes to go in the frame, it looked like the Hurricanes would have a great chance to put the Islanders in a big hole.
However, Simon Holmstrom was able to intercept the puck on a zone entry and lead a shorthanded 2-on-1 the other way, roofing a great backhand shot over Kochetkov, tying the game for the Islanders.
Then only minutes later, Pierre Engvall took the puck to the middle of the ice and just slid the puck through Kochetkov, putting New York ahead out of nowhere.
So despite the Islanders being outshot 15-3 in the period (and 27-10 overall), they managed to score twice in the frame and held a 3-2 lead through 40 minutes.
Carolina tied the game back up only two minutes into the third period though, as Martin Necas played the puck out front, and Jack Drury beat Varlamov. However, only five minutes later with New York on a power play, the puck was tipped down on the way to the net by Kyle Palmieri which squeaked through Kochetkov, before Palmieri then buried the rebound. Then despite Carolina challenging the goal for a missed game stoppage, it was upheld, and the Islanders’ lead remained intact.
Carolina had some great chances late, hitting a post, before Semyon Varlamov made a massive save on a wraparound by Sebastian Aho. But despite Varlamov (and Kochetkov) giving the Islanders every chance to win a game they didn’t deserve in regulation, Jordan Staal threw a puck on net as the seconds died down, and it was poked in by Sebastian Aho to tie the game. Once again, New York had allowed a late, game-changing goal.
However, despite the Islanders being outplayed all game, in overtime, Mathew Barzal led a rush and finished off a great give-and-go with Noah Dobson, sending New York home with the win.
For the positives: the two points are huge for New York, as they continue to try to string together some real momentum. Regardless of how they got the result, a win’s a win, and they make the same progress in the standings as if they had blown out the Hurricanes with their best game of the season.
On the other hand, the Islanders’ actual performance doesn’t necessarily inspire much confidence that this team is turning things around. After giving up three third period goals last game and once again not being able to hold a lead against the Devils, the Islanders were flat for almost the entire game against Carolina. Then despite stumbling into a good position, they blew not one, but two third period leads.
Ray Ferraro mentioned a stat on the broadcast last night: the Islanders have had a lead in 18 of 22 games so far. Looking at where the team stands right now with that in mind, and it’s almost unbelievable that they sit at a 9-7-6 record.
Once again, the team just doesn't look the same defensively. On a couple of the goals allowed, the Islanders had players in the right position to defend, but just allowed the opponent to get by to a loose puck and get a shot off.
The Islanders were better than the Hurricanes in one area, and that was goaltending. New York was outshot 43-16 and if it weren’t for Semyon Varlamov, who continues to be very good this year, the Islanders wouldn't have had an opportunity to win. That said, you can probably attribute the victory even more to Pyotr Kochetkov’s rough night. Kochetkov allowed two or three very stoppable goals in a pretty brutal performance, and it made the difference.
For the positives: Mathew Barzal has been great over the last two games, with two goals and seven points. He scored the game-winner last night, and he’s managing to take charge a little up front.
Anders Lee also continues to produce a bit more, pick up an assist for five points in his last seven games. Meanwhile, Simon Holmstrom is becoming a shorthanded weapon for New York, now with three shorthanded goals this season.
Again, the Islanders still got a win, it’s just not one that inspires a ton of confidence after a disappointing loss earlier in the week. I don’t mean to be negative about a win, it’s just not a sustainable way to earn points. New York was outplayed for almost the entire game and blew multiple leads, but they still earned the two points.
New York will be back in action tomorrow, as they face the Florida Panthers.
New York Islanders Blogger • 
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