FSM Essential Recap: Golden Knights vs Islanders - Game 5

FSM Essential Recap: Golden Knights vs Islanders – Game 5

Franchise Sports Media

The injuries continue to mount for the Vegas Golden Knights as losing streak has reached four games after a 2-0 defeat to the Islanders Sunday night at T-Mobile Arena.  

Shortly before the game, the Golden Knights announced that Nolan Patrick was scratched from the lineup. Robin Lehner was excellent in the game and was one of the only reasons the Golden Knights stayed in the game for as long as they did. The Golden Knights appeared to get out to a quick start, but on the Islanders’ first attack, Josh Bailey poked a rebound past Lehner only two minutes into the game.

Vegas seemed to turn the corner in the second period but could not get a goal past Ilya Sorokin.

VGK continued to have turnover trouble throughout the first period, but Lehner was able to keep the Islanders from extending their lead. Zdeno Chara was whistled for interference around the period’s midpoint, but the Golden Knights power play continued its scoring drought.

Lehner was excellent in the period and kept the Golden Knights in the game while the Islanders buzzed. The Islanders had a superb period as they tallied 11 high-danger chances but could not cash in.

The Golden Knights had a good start to the second period but were unable to capitalize in the early stages.

Sorokin robbed Keegan Kolesar with a diving left pad after Evgeni Dadonov fed Kolesar with a cross-crease pass. The Golden Knights continued to out chance the Islanders throughout the second period, but Sorokin continued to be excellent.

Vegas got another crack at another power play after Chara was whistled for another interference. However, VGK were once again unsuccessful on the man-advantage, this time without much being generated. The Golden Knights tallied eight high danger chances in the second period but could not cash in before the horn.

Early in the third period, Brayden McNabb was sent to the box for interference, but the Golden Knights killed off the penalty with the help of a few excellent saves from Lehner.

The Islanders finally got one past Lehner with a goal from Matthew Barzal. Josh Bailey won a puck battle near the blue line and fed it to a darting Barzal. Barzal beat Lehner’s short side with a snapshot from a sharp angle.

Mattias Janmark was sent to the box for tripping Jean Gabriel-Pageau, but the Golden Knights penalty kill continued to be up-to-par. Lehner headed to the bench for the extra-attacker with 2:21 remaining in regulation, but the Golden Knights could not put one past Sorokin.

The Golden Knights have now dropped their fourth straight game. The last time that happened, Peter DeBoer took over for Gerard Gallant to the surprise of everyone.

“It is what it is,” DeBoer said. “It’s not easy, but you have to look at the bright side, and the bright side is it’s an opportunity for guys to jump into roles maybe they haven’t had, opportunities for young guys to step in, opportunities for us to really test the depth of the organization.”

“We’re NHL players, [a] very good team organization,” Lehner said after the game. “Obviously, it [stinks] losing. No one likes it. But you know what, it’s a bit of adversity that this team hasn’t gone through yet. Good teams can dig themselves out.”

The Knights travel to Colorado to take on the Avalanche on Tuesday night. The puck drops at 5:00 and can be seen on ESPN.