3 Takeaways: Islanders Fall 3-2 in Shootout to Senators

The New York Islanders fell 3-2 to the Ottawa Senators in a shootout on Tuesday night at UBS Arena, as their winless streak reached three games.
"There are moments where we need to be more desperate," Ryan Pulock said after the loss. "We're sagging and we're not playing with enough pressure."
Pulock and Brock Nelson scored for the Islanders, but Tim Stützle (1G, 1A) and Brady Tkachuk (1G, 1A) put up goals for the Senators in regulation. The Islanders couldn't convert on a 4-on-3 power play in overtime and were ultimately were outperformed in the shootout. Stützle had the game-deciding goal, while Drake Batherson beat Ilya Sorokin for the insurance goal. The Islanders took 48 shots, their second-highest total this season.

"It's disheartening when you put in an effort and can't break through," Head Coach Lane Lambert said after the loss. "We just have to move forward."
In a time of the season where every point is critical, the Islanders were able to gain a point on the Washington Capitals, who hold the first wild card spot and fell 3-2 to the Carolina Hurricanes tonight. With the shootout defeat, the Islanders picked up one point to tie the Pittsburgh Penguins, who have five-games at hand and play the San Jose Sharks late Tuesday night. The Islanders will face the Penguins on Friday night at UBS Arena.
"We have to take a couple days, get some good practice and reset," Noah Dobson said. "We'll get ready to play a good team on Friday. Two big points."

ISLANDERS FALTER IN SHOOTOUT:

For the second consecutive game, the Islanders couldn't convert with the man advantage in overtime for the second consecutive game.
"I think we're all disappointed in the result," Dobson said. "Coming up short in extra time, but we can't dwell on it. We have to take the positives, learn from the bad and get ready for the next game."
SENATORS 3, ISLANDERS 2 SO
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KINGER'S CALLS
Nelson Ties It
Pulock Snaps Goal
Ryan Pulock scored his first goal since Dec. 23 to open the scoring for the Islanders, with a wrister from the high slot beat Kevin Mandolese clean in the second frame. Stützle and Tkachuk (PPG) scored a pair of goals to lift Ottawa to a 2-1 lead advantage by the 3:41 mark of the third period.
Nelson extended his career-long point streak, and did so to keep the Islanders in the game. With the Islanders down 2-1 in the third frame, Nelson capitalized on the power play with a one-timer from the faceoff dot, beating Mandolese to even the score at two. His point streak is now at 11 games (7G, 6A), while his goal streak reached three games.
The Islanders got their first look Mandolese, who played in his first NHL game and stopped 46-of-48 shots and did not give up a goal in the shootout.
"It wasn't for a lack of generating opportunities," Lambert said. "Have to give their goalie some credit. We had in the neighborhood of 80 shot attempts. It wasn't for the lack of putting pucks to the net."
The Islanders 48 shots on goal in the contest marks their second-highest of the season, one shy of their 49-shot outing on Dec. 2 against Nashville.
"We had lots of chances, we had 45 plus shots," Dobson said. "You do that most nights, you're going to have a pretty good chance to win."

Video: OTT@NYI: Nelson scores PPG in 3rd period

POWER PLAY IMPROVES, BUT COMES UP SHORT:

The Islanders had six opportunities on the power play - capitalizing on one of them - generating 15 shots through 12 minutes with the man advantage. However, Tuesday marked the second straight game the Islanders did not convert on a four-on-three opportunity in overtime.
"Our entries have been better, it starts there," Lambert said. "We've entered the zone well and we've been generating more shots."
The Islanders power play has been productive of late, going 5-for-15 in their last five games after a 4-for-68 stretch. Bo Horvat sparked energy into power play unit since the big trade, but Noah Dobson has also been a major contributor. With a primary assist on Nelson's goal, Dobson extended his point streak to three games, with four points (1G, 3A) on the power play alone.

PAGEAU OUT, KOIVULA IN:

Jean-Gabriel Pageau was unable to face his former club on Tuesday night. The 30-year-old center was a last-minute scratch for the Islanders, missing the game with an upper-body injury and is listed as day-to-day.
Otto Koivula made his season debut for the Islanders, centering the fourth line with Matt Martin and Hudson Fasching. In his season debut, Koivula played 6:36 and recorded one hit, shot attempt, while also drawing a penalty in the second period in a drive to the net.
With Pageau out, Bo Horvat took an Islanders season high 32 faceoffs in the contest, winning 16 of them. Horvat's personal best this season was 36 on Nov. 5 when he was with the Vancouver Canucks.

NEXT GAME:

The Islanders take on the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday night at UBS Arena. It's also Billy Smith legends night, so come celebrate the Islanders legendary goaltender. Puck drop is at 7 p.m.