Islanders need results from strong efforts

The frustration didn't show on the Islanders' faces Thursday night. It had been there plenty during the past two weeks, as a team that rarely has struggled to score in recent seasons couldn't find any consistency on offense. Thursday night was different, though, despite a 2-1 loss to the Kings.

Of course, the only way to keep the frustration from creeping back in was to follow up Thursday night's strong effort everywhere but the scoreboard with a similar effort and better results Friday night here against the Ducks.

"I think we brought it here tonight," Frans Nielsen said after the loss in Los Angeles. "We have to keep the same effort tomorrow. We're starting to move our feet, shoot pucks more."

One area in which the Islanders could use a boost is on the power play, which went 0-for-3 Thursday night and was 1-for-16 in the last six games entering Friday night. It's no coincidence that the Islanders were 2-4-0 in those six. Their once-invincible penalty kill has allowed a goal in four of those six, including the last three losses.

"That was the difference again," coach Jack Capuano said.

And it felt like a huge difference after the Islanders did not score during a 45-second five-on-three early in the third period. Getting pucks on net, or at least in the direction of the net, had been an issue in the power-play drought.

Capuano returned Marek Zidlicky to the right point on the first unit, teaming him with Nick Leddy to create another avenue for shots from the top rather than puck movement below the hash marks.

"We had a couple good looks," John Tavares said, "but we have to score on those."

Zidlicky's shot during the ensuing five-on-four missed the net and banked out in front, where Brock Nelson had a sure tie game on his stick, but his shot smacked off the post. The Islanders were left wanting yet again, the fourth time in six games that they scored a single goal. They were held to one goal or fewer 14 times all of last season.

There are alternatives. Ryan Strome was sent to Bridgeport a week ago, but he has produced only one point, an assist in three Sound Tigers wins. Thomas Hickey, who had two goals in the four games he played between injuries this season, likely is a week away from returning.

But the tone in the visitors' room Thursday night said these same Islanders were hopeful they can revive their offense without any changes.

"The chances were there," Tavares said. "We just have to find ways to put them in."

Notes & quotes: Rookie D Adam Pelech made his NHL debut Friday night after being called up from Bridgeport. Pelech took Zidlicky's spot. Johnny Boychuk was to take Zidlicky's place on the top power-play unit . . . Thomas Greiss got the start in goal.