Isles lose in shootout to Panthers, who score 5 times

The Islanders needed a little something extra to break through the Panthers' defensive-zone shell in the third period Friday night. Trailing by two goals despite tons of puck possession and offensive zone time, the Islanders weren't finding any holes.

The extra something arrived from Bridgeport on Thursday and produced Friday night. Ryan Strome, back from his three-week AHL exile, got the Islanders on the board 5:36 into the third, sparking a rally that earned the Isles a point in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Panthers.

It was nothing to celebrate too much, given that the Islanders wasted a late third-period/early overtime power-play chance to win and the Panthers scored on all five of their shootout attempts against Jaroslav Halak. But after 45 dreary minutes had the Isles down 2-0, there was something positive to take from this one.

"They clogged the middle pretty well, and even though we had some good zone time, we couldn't get much through," Anders Lee said. "Ryan got us going. He was that sparkplug we needed in the third."

Strome found an open spot to Roberto Luongo's left as Mikhail Grabovski outworked two Panthers for the puck below the goal line. Strome's wrist shot beat Luongo over his left arm for his first goal since Oct. 12.

At 8:39, the Islanders tied it. After a strong shift by his line, Josh Bailey cut to the net and saw his chip shot that was heading well wide carom off Brandon Pirri's leg and in.

The Islanders didn't dominate the rest of the way, but there were golden chances to take the two points available in regulation.

Kyle Okposo sprung Brock Nelson for a late chance that Luongo barely got with his glove. The Panthers were called for too many men, giving the Islanders a power play with 1:25 left in regulation.

They didn't convert but still had 35 seconds of four-on-three power-play time to start OT. The Islanders didn't get a shot on goal and nearly lost it when Panthers rookie Connor Brickley exited the penalty box and went in alone on Halak, who got just enough of the shot to keep overtime going.

The shootout was a shooter's delight, with only Nelson stopped in the end of round five to give the Panthers the extra point.

"I thought we weren't bad," said John Tavares, who was smothered by the Panthers' defensive style. "We had the puck a lot; we just have to find a way through. Overall, I thought we did a lot of good things."

But the Islanders' small breakdowns put them behind after 40 minutes. A hesitant play by Calvin de Haan gave Pirri enough room to snap a wrist shot that deflected off Grabovski's stick and past Halak at 8:38 of the first, and soft positioning by Bailey let Jussi Jokinen sweep in an easy goal at 4:42 of the second.

Still, a two-goal rally in the third sent the Isles across the state to Tampa for Saturday night's game feeling better about themselves, thanks to the "new" guy just back from Bridgeport.

"I thought he played well," Jack Capuano said. "He played with some confidence and some poise."