Islanders come back but lose to Vegas in shootout

Robin Lehner decided a while ago to shave his shaggy beard out of respect for Islanders president and general manager Lou Lamoriello — who keeps a strict ban on facial hair during the regular season — the first time he returned to Long Island to face his former team.

He made 30 saves to lead Vegas to a 4-3 shootout win on Sunday afternoon at UBS Arena. It included an emotional video tribute for his lone season with the Islanders during a first-period stoppage that ended with Lehner saluting the cheering sellout crowd of 17,255 by tapping the tattoo of Long Island he has on the left side of his neck.

"He’s one of the best GMs in the league," Lehner said. "I respect him more than most, what a man he is. Same with [coach Barry] Trotz. I know they’re going to turn it around. I know they’re going to get to the playoffs. I know that group."

Emerging fan favorite Ilya Sorokin made 31 saves for the last-place Islanders (8-12-6). Defenseman Shea Theodore, who also scored twice for Vegas (20-11-0), and Nicolas Roy converted in the shootout, and Lehner denied Anthony Beauvillier and Oliver Wahlstrom.

"There’s love for Robin for what he did here," Trotz said. "The tattoo on his neck, when you see the Island, that’s commitment. That’s a love for a fan base that shows the love back to him."

Lehner was off the ice for an extra skater when Theodore’s slap shot past Sorokin’s glove with 47.1 seconds left in regulation tied it at 3.

Vegas has won five straight and eight of nine. The Islanders are 0-for-7 in shootout attempts this season.

Lehner played for the Islanders in 2018-19, detailing his battles with addiction and mental health issues when training camp opened and winning the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for perseverance and dedication after the season. Lamoriello did not offer him the long-term contract he sought, so Lehner signed with Chicago, which traded him to Vegas in 2019-20.

"The first exhibition game I played here after I released my story, I got a standing ovation," said Lehner, who made 24 saves as the Islanders won, 2-0, in Las Vegas on Oct. 24. "I never had that before on any team. They’ve showed me love since Day 1. People think I’m making a big deal out of it. Yeah, I am, this is my life.

"It was just a fun game to play today. It was fun to get the win. It was very nice to be back here. It’s so much more than hockey to me. I can’t explain it. It’s the love I have for the guys there, this team, the organization, what they’ve helped me do in my life."

Theodore’s power-play slap shot through traffic from the blue line at 5:46 of the third period gave Vegas a 2-1 lead. Kieffer Bellows tied it at 14:19 with a wrist shot past Lehner’s left pad. Bellows also earned his first NHL fighting major at 18:16 of the second period, dropping the gloves with Max Pacioretty after his hard hit on defenseman Andy Greene.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau, at the crease, gave the Islanders a 3-2 lead at 17:40 after Cal Clutterbuck’s apparent go-ahead goal at 16:43 was challenged successfully by Vegas for offside.

"We battled ourselves back and got the lead," said Brock Nelson, whose power-play goal at 11:08 of the first period tied it at 1 after Jonathan Marchessault opened the scoring at 6:56. "Any time you’re up one late, you want to get the two points. You’re disappointed in the last minute for sure. But it’s a good game."

By Andrew Gross

andrew.gross@newsday.comAGrossNewsday

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.