The Islanders lost a frustrating game in regulation to the Nashville Predators, one they didn\u2019t really deserve anything from, though the circumstances were still frustrating.<\/p>\n
They blew an early 2-0 lead after looking pretty good in the first 10 minutes of the game, then were completely discombobulated the rest of the way, relying on Ilya Sorokin to keep them in it. Even with that, they also lost a 3-2 lead, had a goal overturned (and their coach\u2019s challenge denied) for goalie interference on Anthony Duclair outside the crease, and gave up the game winner with just 1:14 left to play while the teams were at 4-on-4 following another head-scratching official\u2019s ruling.<\/p>\n
All that said, they\u2019d have been lucky to get one point from this game and the 4-3 loss was warranted. You could argue they should\u2019ve lost by much more \u2014 the Predators had a UBS record 22 shots in the second period alone \u2014 if only to make crystal clear they can\u2019t get away with playing like this against non-Rangers-level foes.<\/p>\n
To think, it all started out like it might be a fun night. Mathew Barzal and Anthony Duclair were buzzing on their first shift and got the Isles on the board at 1:29 as Barzal batted a bouncing puck in at the back door.<\/p>\n
Matthew Schaefer double the lead four minutes later when Ryan Pulock handled a difficult pass from Barzal but stumbled with it just long enough to draw the opposite side winger toward him. That left Schaefer wide open for a feed, and the 18-year-0ld drove down the left wing faceoff circle and picked his spot on Juuse Saros for his 15th(!) goal.<\/p>\n
But the lead didn\u2019t last, and once again the Isles special teams could not reverse the tide. Nashville got on the board at the midway point just six seconds after Adam Pelech went into the box for tripping, and the Preds added a tying goal three minutes later. As the Predators continued to push, the Isles looked lucky to escape the period tied.<\/p>\n
Even moreso in the second, when J-G Pageau got them a brief lead scoring against the flow of play. He drove the slot and made a pass attempt for Anders Lee, who had fed him first. The pass was blocked, but it still sent all of the Predators, including Saros, the wrong way while Pageau picked up the rebound and slid it in.<\/p>\n
Filip Forsberg tied it at 3-3 seven minutes later, and miraculously that was how things would stay until Roman Josi\u2019s late dagger.<\/p>\n
The Goalie Interference(?)<\/p>\n
Patrick Roy, the veteran of 19 NHL sesons and 1,029 games, clearly doesn\u2019t understand what counts a goalie interference in this league\u2026and neither does anyone else. The officials aggressively called this one off rather than waiting for a Nashville challenge (Saros\u2019 dramatic glove toss may have helped), so it was left for the Isles to challenge and note some things that we have heard are important: 1) Duclair wasn\u2019t in the crease, 2) Saros initiated contact, with his teammate helping keep Duclair there, 3) Not even sure if that contact was what prevented Saros \u2014 who seemed more intent in coming out to push Duclair \u2014 from making a play on a shot from the other side.<\/p>\n
But whatever. I\u2019m kind of glad it happened in a game the Isles seemed intent to lose anyway. You can argue from the scoreboard that it cost them the game, but they still killed the ensuing penalty off and they were sabotaging themselves throughout, they would\u2019ve still found a way to lose.<\/p>\n