The New Jersey Devils returned to action last night on Long Island. As has been the case for many games recently, New Jersey battled back but ended up going home with no points. This time courtesy of a 3-2 loss against the Islanders.

First Period

New Jersey Devils’ captain, Nico Hischier, wasted no time getting scoring chances. Hischier had two in the game’s first two minutes. Unfortunately, both were stopped by New York Islanders’ goaltender Ilya Sorokin. Casey Cizikas would get a breakaway, a potentially early test for Jon Gillies, yet his shot would go wide. 

A.J. Greer would draw the game’s first penalty to give New Jersey the game’s first power play. The Devils’ power play took too long to get quality shots and could not score. Both of their shots on the man advantage were stopped by Sorokin. The best of the two came courtesy of Tomas Tatar.

Yegor Sharangovich would continue his scoring streak by scoring the game’s first goal. That goal came courtesy of a P.K. Subban outlet pass. In all three Devils versus Islanders games so far this season, New Jersey has scored first.  Ironically, the only time the Islanders have won after letting the opposition score first was the Devils’ last visit to UBS Arena. 

The Islander’s first power-play would come after a tripping call against Ryan Graves. After 38-seconds, Brock Nelson tripped Jonas Siegenthaler. This resulted in just under a minute and a half of four-on-four hockey before the Devils got an abbreviated power play of their own. 

After both penalties expired, Colton White took a hooking penalty to give the Islanders their second man advantage of the night. Gillies would make one save as Jimmy Vesey and Sharangovich both had short-handed chances of their own. As the clock ran down, Josh Bailey would score off a rebound on the doorstep to tie the game at one goal apiece. 

The period would end with a 1-1 tie. As time was expiring, Gillies caught a very long-range shot from Zdeno Chara. Shots were tied as well 14-14. 

Second Period

Siegenthaler would take the period first penalty and the Devils third of the game. Islanders’ captain, Anders Lee, took a high-stick to send Siegenthaler for two minutes. The Devils would continue their strong penalty kill. 

It would take until the halfway point in the game’s middle period for there to be more goal-scoring action. Unfortunately, for the Devils, it Islanders who would get the go-ahead goal. Adam Pelech scored his first of his season, with former Devil Zach Parise getting the primary assist. At that point, Gillies had stopped 14 of the 15 shots he faced.  

For the second time in the game, Greer would draw a power play for New Jersey. Pelech would be sent away for a cross-check behind the goaltender. The Devils couldn’t find the equalizer. The period would end with the Islanders up 2-1. 

Third Period

The first bit of excitement would come not as the result of a goal, but two teammates teaming up for a few extracurricular activities. After Oliver Wahlstrom laid a hit on Jimmy Vesey, Nathan Bastian and Michael McLeod would meet him for a conversation with shoving at the halfway. Interestingly, former Devil Andy Greene was a part of the Islanders reinforcements. Bastian would be the only player sent to the box. 

Pelech would be sent away for his second penalty of the night giving New Jersey its first power play of the period. The Islanders did a good job stopping a Devils power play low on shots. The Islanders would also clear the puck three times. 

Devils wouldn’t have to wait long for their next power play. Brock Nelson would get the penalty for cross-checking Michael McLeod. A deflected Ty Smith shot would even things up at two goals apiece. Bastian continued being a valuable net-front presence on the power play by deflecting that shot. Moments later a Tatar shot would go wide of the net, missing giving the Devils the go-ahead goal but so much. 

The penalty-heavy third period would continue. Bastian and Ross Johnston took coincidental minors and we had four-on-four for two minutes. Just as the Devils were enjoying being tied up, Matt Barzal scored from the slot on the to restore the Islanders’ lead. 

With just over a minute and a half left, Gillies would head the bench for the extra attacker. It wouldn’t be too little as the Devils would fall to their Metropolitan Division rival. The Devils have lost their last three road games dropping to 14-18-5 on the season.