Predators 2*, Islanders 1 (*SO): Back to earth

The New York Islanders followed up their gate-busting nine-goal romp over New Jersey with one measly goal against the Predators, falling 2-1 via shootout in Nashville.

The outcome gives them a valuable point and keeps them in second place in the Metro (for now) as they begin their seven-game road trip, though they’ll feel it was a missed opportunity to get two.

Then again, though Juuse Saros made some great saves and blanked the Isles in the shootout, David Rittich had some big moments at the other end, including a late scramble where the Isles benefited from some healthy bounces and accidental blocks when regulation was still up for grabs.

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Saros made 30 saves including three stops across two non-threatening Isles power plays, one of which gave up the only Nashville goal. The Predators had just one power play of their own; the teams played 4-on-4 on three separate occasions, as the officials otherwise avoided creating special teams situations.

But there was occasional ill tempers, including when Casey Cizikas was basically slew-footed by Tyson Jost and Cizikas took an offsetting roughing minor. (Officially, it was tripping by Jost and unsportsmanlike conduct by Cizikas, though the ref announced roughing for both through a mangled in-arena mic.)

Another occasion was when Saros made a meal out of contact with Anders Lee above his crease, losing his stick and his earthly balance, while Lee tried to slide a rebound home — Saros stopped it — and then Adam Pelech put it into the net but after the whistle had blown. That brought extended shoving and heated discussion from all on the ice, save Rittich, who likely came up with some Czech one-liners as he observed things from his legal perch 200 feet away.

Simon Holmstrom scored the only Isles goal, midway through the first period with a tired Nashville unit falling victim to a cycle activation by Scott Mayfield(!!), who pinched down the boards, around the net, and threw a pass that threaded through legs to find Holmstrom.

Alas, the Isles power play gave it back seven minutes later when Cole Smith and Ryan O’Reilly out hustled everyone on a broken clear. Smith hunted down the puck, finding the soft spot in the backcheck, then O’Reilly sprinted just ahead of Jonathan Drouin to get free for the one-timer:

There were chances, some good saves and posts the rest of the way, but — after an OT largely controlled by the Isles but with few threats other than Matthew Schaefer from the slot — it came down to just one shootout conversion.

In that breakaway drill that defines a “winner” and a “oh, that’s a loser point” in our modern times, O’Reilly and Steven Stamkos were stopped (though Stamkos hit the post) by Rittich, while Mat Barzal, Holmstrom (who also hit the post) and Emil Heineman were stopped by Saros. Filip Forsberg’s slick backhand while Rittich readied a pokecheck proved the difference.

Up Next

Before they cross the border, the Isles have date with the surging Minnesota Wild and Quinn “not even close to being a Devil” Hughes on Saturday night.