3 Takeaways: Defense Earns Islanders Point in 2-1 Shootout Loss to Dallas

Coming off a 1-3-0 road trip, the New York Islanders were looking for a reset upon their return home.
While they didn't pick up two points, they got a much-needed one in a 2-1 shootout loss to the Dallas Stars at UBS Arena.
Anders Lee's power-play goal was the Islanders lone tally, while Jason Robertson scored the Stars only goals in the shootout and regulation.

While a point was a positive after dropping two straight in regulation, the Islanders felt they had played good enough to win against the Central Division leading Stars.
"We had our opportunities and we played well," Lee said. "We came up short getting that extra one before the shootout, but if we play like that we're going to put ourselves in really good spot. A good rebound game after the trip."
The loss snapped the Islanders' three-game home winning streak and extended their overall winless streak to three games (0-2-1).

STINGY DEFENSE EARNS ISLES POINT VS DALLAS:

After a pair of four-goal losses in Alberta, the Islanders tightened their defensive game against the Stars.
Tuesday marked the fourth straight home game the Islanders allowed one goal in regulation. It came early, as Robertson finished off a tic-tac-toe play from Tyler Seguin and Joe Pavelski at 3:42 of the first period. Shootout aside, that was the lone blemish on Ilya Sorokin's night.
STARS 2, ISLANDERS 1 (S0)
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Dallas was credited with 16 high danger chances for (per Natural Stat Trick) to the Islanders' 15, though that didn't count Casey Cizikas' overturned goal at the end of the second period due to Anthony Beauvillier being offside. The Islanders held the Stars to nine shots or fewer in each period, so it was far from the shooting gallery in Edmonton on Thursday night.
"Both teams were pretty stingy," Lee said. "We did a really good job in our zone and being able to stop pucks and exit the zone with possession, which ended up leading to a lot of opportunities at the other end."
The Islanders had their chances to win the game in the third period and overtime. JG Pageau had an open look off a Hudson Fasching feed late in the third period, while Noah Dobson was poke-checked by Jake Oettinger on a partial breakaway in overtime.
The game was decided on a coinflip in the shootout, as Mathew Barzal, Beauvillier and Brock Nelson were denied by Oettinger, while Joe Pavelski and Denis Gurianov were denied by Sorokin.
"It was a good game both ways," said Noah Dobson, who had 11 shot attempts. "We could have deserved to get the two points, but we didn't. If we bring that same effort to night and night out we're going to win a lot of hockey games."

LEE SCORES POWER PLAY GOAL:

The Islanders power play scored for the third time in the past six games.
On Tuesday, it was courtesy of Anders Lee, who netted his 15th goal of the season and fourth power-play goal of the season. Brock Nelson set up the goal, sending a slap pass to the middle of the ice, where it caromed off the captain.
After some recent shuffling, Tuesday marked the return of the Islanders regular power play units. Nelson and Lee were joined by Dobson, Barzal and Pageau.
"The unit we had we thought we had good looks, so obviously we had a tough stretch," Nelson said. "We weren't getting opportunities to go in, so to come out and get that one to tie it up was a big one."

HOLMSTROM, BARZAL RETURN:

The injury plagued Islanders got a couple of reinforcements on Tuesday night. Simon Holmstrom returned after missing six games with a lower-body injury, while Mathew Barzal was back after a one-game absence.
Holmstrom and Barzal played together in their respective returns, as the rookie was given a chance to play along the Isles leading scorer, as well as captain Anders Lee.
Barzal skated 21:45 TOI with two shots, one hit, one takeaway and two giveaways, while Holmstrom skated 12:55 with three shot attempts, a blocked shot and a hit.

NEXT GAME:

The Islanders are back in action on Thursday when they take on the Minnesota Wild at UBS Arena. Puck drop is at 7:30 p.m.