Islanders lose to Chicago in a shootout as skid extends to 11
Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov looks on against the Blackhawks in the second period of an NHL game at UBS Arena on Sunday. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
The Islanders will go an entire month without a victory.
They did extend their modest point streak to three games on Sunday night, thanks to a tying goal by defenseman Noah Dobson with four seconds left in regulation. Yet their losing streak reached 11 games as Chicago eked out a 3-2 shootout victory at UBS Arena.
"The only thing I didn’t like in the game is really the result," coach Barry Trotz said. "We’re playing hockey now. We’re playing a lot of areas the right way.
We’re playing with a little more confidence."
The last-place Islanders (5-10-5) are in an 0-8-3 skid and haven’t won since a 2-0 victory in Winnipeg on Nov. 6. They were coming off Saturday night’s 4-3 overtime loss in Detroit and are 0-4-2 in their new home.
Semyon Varlamov, playing his best game of the season, made 24 saves but had no chance as Patrick Kane lifted a filthy laser in the second round for the shootout’s lone goal. Chicago goalie Marc-Andre Fleury (22 saves) stopped Oliver Wahlstrom, Mathew Barzal and Anthony Beauvillier in the shootout.
Fleury got career win No. 499, which ranks him third on the all-time list.
"We’ve been doing some good things the last three games," said Jean-Gabriel Pageau, who tied the score at 1 at 8:03 of the second period with a power-play goal, his first tally since Nov. 4. "We want that extra point, but we’re building right now. I think our game is going in the right direction. You see when you score like that at the end that the team is ready to play a full 60.
"Everyone showed up tonight and Varly kept us in the game and gave us a chance to get that extra goal and Dobber was everywhere tonight. Just to get that goal was huge for us."
Dobson, the Islanders’ best skater in both weekend games, tied it at 2 from the blue line at 19:56 of the third period with Varlamov off for an extra skater. It was his first goal of the season.
"When you tie the game up that late, there’s a lot of excitement," said Dobson, who took five shots in a career-high 26:14. "A little relief, too. I think I had a couple of looks throughout the game where I would have liked to bury them. But it was nice to get the one at the end and get that point."
Chicago, now 8-4-0 under interim coach Derek King, a former Islander, also played on Saturday night, losing to the Rangers, 3-2, at Madison Square Garden.
Dylan Strome had given Chicago a 2-1 lead at 5:59 of the third period. Defenseman Sebastian Aho, trying to clear a loose puck from near the crease, instead poked it right to an open Strome in the right circle.
"That one is a little more preventable," Trotz said. "We got a little bit on the wrong side of a guy, a little bit of tired. They made a play through. We actually broke it up, but it went right to their guy’s stick and they got a quick shot."
The Islanders had a decent start, one with energy and a couple of good looks, undone by an unnecessary penalty. They were breaking up ice in transition when the rush was whistled dead, with defenseman Scott Mayfield hooking Brandon Hagel well behind the play at 5:03 of the first period.
Hagel then used his body to deflect in Alex DeBrincat’s power-play one-timer from the left circle to make it 1-0 at 6:49.
"It’s unfortunate we didn’t get the second point," Josh Bailey said. "There’s some positives. It’s starting to feel right again. There’s still more. Baby steps.
"This isn’t going to happen overnight."
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
