The New York Islanders played only their 5th
home of the season on Thursday night, hosting the San Jose Sharks at the brand
new UBS Arena on Long Island. Entering play they had lost 8 straight games, and
were coming off a COVID contamination that forced the postponement of two games
and shuttered their practice facility for four days. They finished the night
with a 9 consecutive loss after Erik Karlsson scored in overtime to help propel
the Sharks 2-1.
The Sharks won their third straight game, earning
their 6th point on their current 5-game road trip. Karlsson converted 39
seconds into the overtime period after he and Timo Meier raced up the ice on a
2-on-1 break. Meier had a scoring chance turned aside by goaltender Ilya
Sorokin, but Meier retained possession of the puck as he raced past the right
post.
The winger pivoted from behind the end line and slid a pass to
Karlsson in front of the Islanders net. The defenseman swept the puck into a
wide open net for this 5th goal of the season and 3-0 record in overtime this
season.
New York's issue this season has been scoring, which seemed
like that may be temporarily addressed at the game's opening.
Adin
Hill's playing time has been cut as of late because of his inconsistent play.
He didn't do himself any favor by allowing the Islanders to score on their 1st
shot of the game 1:04 into the contest. Matthew Barzal ripped a shot from the
right side on the fly, that found the top left corner. It was a shot that Hill
should have made, but instead it put his team in an instant hole.
The
Islanders put the Sharks on the power play after getting caught with too many
men on the ice. San Jose would capitalize when Nick Bonino tapped home the tail
end of a series of passes that tic-tac-toe'd around the New York zone. Bonino's
goal came right after the Islanders penalty expired, to the Sharks were not
credited with a power play tally, but it was as Anders Lee had just stepped
back on the ice after serving the penalty.
Jean-Gabriel Pageu had a
scoring chance 7 minutes into the 2nd period, but his momentum carried him into
Adin Hill, bulldozing the Sharks goaltender. The Sharks almost held the puck in
the Islanders zone for the entire 2 minutes of the Pageau penalty, but could
not get the puck past Sorokin.
San Jose would skate with the man advantage twice in
the period, but failed to convert on either.
A scoring chance in the
final minute of play, left the Sharks a hair from taking a lead in to the 2nd
intermission, but Captain Logan Couture's chance pushed wide right of Sorokin.
The two teams traded 7 shots each in the 3rd period, but both
goaltender's held firm. Sorokin finished the game with 33 saves. Hill countered
with 24 saves.
Game Notes: * Jonah Gadjovich took a
shot off the inside of his left leg, then fell to the ice after trying to get
up immediately after blocking a shot. He was down on the ice for several
minutes and was helped off the ice without putting any weight on the leg. He
did not return to the game.
* Radim Simek will likely take advantage
of the Sharks aspirin supply after he absorbed a pair of big hits in the game.
Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck wiped out the Sharks defensemen. The latter
initiated a response from Simek's teammates who swarmed Clutterbuck after a
whistle. The defensemen skipped a few shifts early in the 3rd period, although
it's not clear if that was induced by the beating he took.
* The
Sharks got a scare when Timo Meier left the game in the 3rd period after Adam
Pelech extended a leg and caught the Sharks forward with a knee on knee hit.
Meier skated off gingerly, but returned to the Sharks bench after a trip down
the tunnel.
* The shot blocking machine, Mario Ferraro finished the
game without recording a block. Jake Middleton led the Sharks with 5 blocks.
* Timo Meier recorded assists on both Shark goals. His first assist
extended his scoring streak to 3 games. Meier has recorded points in 4 of his
last 5 games and 7 of his last 10. He has failed to record a point in only 4 of
the 18 games he's played in this season.
