– After allowing a goal at 5-on-3, the shorthanded units rattled off four straight kills in support of the comeback effort. Rittich played a crucial role in the strength of the penalty kill – he notably kicked away an attempt from Nate Schmidt to keep the Isles within one. He kept the Islanders in it, in a game where they didn’t get off to their best start. Rittich was tested early – in a period where the Isles were outshot 13-6, Rittich had to make three saves in the opening minute of the game.
“It could have been 5-1 after one, and he was great all night,” Anders Lee said. “They had some big blasts, one-timers and cross-ice plays. They’re a skilled team coming into the zone and he gave us a chance. We backed him up at the end.”
– For the second straight game, the Islanders found a late goal in the third period to tie the game, as Drouin scored to tie it at two apiece at the 13:44 mark of the frame. But unlike Thursday’s game-tying goal from Barzal against the Golden Knights, Drouin’s goal was scored in controversial fashion. His goal was originally ruled to be a kicking motion, but upon further review the refs determined that Utah’s Schmidttouched the puck last before it went in the net, making it a good goal for the Islanders.