After believing they had played some good hockey this week, though with just one point in two games to show for it, the Islanders had another chance to win in a playoff-style atmosphere in New Jersey.
But if they keep struggling to close out games as they did again Saturday night, they might be in danger of missing out on the playoffsthat count.
The night got off to a stirring start with the jersey retirement of Patrik Elias, and the Devils ended it the same way, coming back for two goals in the third period to beat the Islanders, 2-1, at Prudential Center.
“It’s a tough one to swallow,” said winger Jordan Eberle, who scored the Islanders’ lone goal in the second period. “When you play a solid game and you don’t win, it is frustrating. That being said, the good teams, when they play well they win. It’s that simple.”
Kyle Palmieri scored both Devils goals in a wild third period, deflecting home the winner off a shot from Sami Vatanen with 8:49 left.
Islanders captain John Tavares took the blame for the goal, saying he lost track of Palmieri after trying to send the puck around the boards.
“My fault on the second goal there,” Tavares said. “It was my guy in front of the net and I just didn’t tie him up well enough. Just a breakdown that led to them capitalizing on an opportunity and obviously two points we would have loved to have had. … I gotta have my guy.”
The Islanders carried a 1-0 lead into the third period after a solid first 40 minutes, but couldn’t finish the job. Palmieri flew into the zone on a one-on-three and flung a wrister that got past Jaroslav Halak to tie it with 13:25 left in regulation. Devils All-Star Taylor Hall recorded an assist on the equalizer, extending his point streak to 21 games.
Minutes later, the Islanders went on a power play but couldn’t take advantage, instead letting the Devils swing the momentum in their favor for the rest of the night.
“We just couldn’t get the second goal,” coach Doug Weight said. “Felt really good all game. It’s a good game. We gotta get results, but we played hard, played well.”
The Islanders’ hottest line had come through again to make it a 1-0 lead early in the second period. On a three-on-two rush, Mathew Barzal slid a pass to Anthony Beauvillier, who found Eberle waiting in front to tip home his 22nd goal of the season.
That line has combined for five goals and 10 assists over the past five games.
The Islanders entered the day five points behind the Devils in the wild-card standings, but failed to make up any ground. As they try to chase down a playoff spot, potential four-point swings like the one they were after on Saturday can’t be understated.
“Especially when it’s a third-period comeback, it’s deflating,” Eberle said. “We had a real opportunity here to start moving up and [when] you give up a game like that, it knocks you back a little bit.”
In their previous two games, the Islanders felt they had played well enough to win. The only problem was they had just one point to show for it, that coming in Thursday’s shootout loss to the Maple Leafs. After missing the playoffs by a point last season, the Islanders are more than aware just playing well won’t be good enough.
“It’s a tough way to lose, but we have to find a way to get results,” Weight said. “Just gotta keep digging. We’re still in the neighborhood. It’s a real humbling, tough loss but we gotta get back to work.”