Islanders come up empty in 4-0 loss to Lightning
Photo credit: AP | New York Islanders goalie Dwayne Rolson (30) deflects a shot from Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Steve Downie (9) during the first period. (December 5, 2009)
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Tampa Bay 4, Islanders 0
TAMPA, Fla. - Against a Lightning penalty-killing unit that entered last night's game 28th in the league, the Islanders came up short on all six of their power-play opportunities and lost, 4-0, at the St. Pete Times Forum.
Goaltender Mike Smith earned his first shutout of the season as the Lightning snapped a four-game losing streak.
The Islanders squandered 10:39 of power-play time. "They scored two power-play goals and we didn't score any," Kyle Okposo said. "That was a big difference in the game."
The Islanders got pushed against the wall early, spending the first two shifts in their own end and giving up a goal to Ryan Malone at 1:35. Although it appeared Dwayne Roloson covered up a rebound from Andrej Meszaros' snap shot, there was no whistle. Malone was there at the post to dig it out and bang the puck through to give the Lightning a 1-0 lead.
"When a guy whacks at it five times and there's no whistle, you kind of expect [a stoppage]," Roloson said. "But everyone makes mistakes."
The Islanders had a prime opportunity late in the first as they had 1:21 of five-on-three power-play time.
But they couldn't deliver against an impotent Tampa Bay penalty-killing unit that entered the game having allowed seven power-play goals in 18 attempts in its last four games.
The Islanders registered only one shot on goal during that 81-second span, a quality chance for John Tavares at close range. Smith smothered the sharp wrister.
"That five-on-three, we couldn't have asked for a better chance,'' Isles coach Scott Gordon said. "When a goalie makes a save on his stomach with his leg up in the air . . . obviously, it's not going to be our night."
The Lightning gained momentum from the kill and drew a penalty shortly afterward. Vinny Lecavalier lifted a pass over the head of defenseman Bruno Gervais to spring Martin St. Louis on a breakaway and Brendan Witt got called for slashing at 18:26.
The Lightning extended its lead to 2-0 on the ensuing power play when Steve Downie scored with 52 seconds left in the first. Roloson made a save on Meszaros' deep slap shot but got turned around and left space for Downie to knock one in for his fifth goal.
The Islanders couldn't take advantage of three more power-play opportunities in the second period. Okposo made a great play to strip the puck from Victor Hedman but hit the post on a breakaway in the period.
Despite his relentless hustle and committed effort to generate offense, Okposo can't seem to snap his goal drought, which has reached nine games. He has 15 shots in the last four.
With less than a minute to play in the period, Okposo found the back of the net, but the goal was waved off when the on-ice official ruled he received the puck on a hand pass from Tavares.
"If he wasn't getting opportunities, then I'd be worried, but he's obviously snakebitten," Gordon said.
Jeff Halpern made it 3-0 at 2:58 of the third period and Hedman landed the knockout punch with his first NHL goal.
