3 Takeaways: Islanders Fall 5-1 in Florida

The New York Islanders dropped their second-straight game on Saturday night, falling 5-1 to the Florida Panthers at FLA Live Arena.
Oliver Wahlstrom scored the lone goal for the Islanders, who dropped to 0-2-0, while Sam Bennett's hat trick powered the Panthers offense. Anthony Duclair and Aleksander Barkov also scored for the Panthers. In net, Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 28 of 29, while Ilya Sorokin turned aside 29 of 30.
Read Sasha Kandrach's Rapid Recap here. See below for takeaways from Saturday's game.

DEFENSIVE BREAKDOWNS PROVE COSTLY FOR SECOND-STRAIGHT GAME:

The Islanders didn't allow five goals in consecutive games during the shortened 2020-21 season, but did so for a second-straight contest to open the season.
That's uncharacteristic of Trotz's usually stingy and structured squad, and partially a product of playing two high-octane offenses in the first two games. While the Islanders allowed 22 shots in the second period of Thursday's opener in Carolina, they held the Panthers to just 13 shots through two periods.
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Postgame: Greene & Wahlstrom
Postgame: Cizikas & Pelech
Postgame: Trotz
Trotz felt it wasn't a matter of quantity of chances against on Saturday, as he was happy with Florida's low shot out early, but quality.
"When we've been breaking down, we've been really breaking down," Trotz said. "A lot of it starts with some of our execution and a couple decisions… We played well and probably didn't deserve to be down 3-0 after two periods."

Bennett opened the scoring by getting inside position on Noah Dobson and sweeping home a rebound at 9:10. The Islanders were able to survive a pair of defensive-zone turnovers to start the second, but the loose d-zone play resulted in Bennett's second tally of the night, as he caught Sorokin out of position, circled the net and deposited a wraparound at 3:48.
The Islanders seemingly got on the board midway through the second period, but Ryan Pulock's bomb from the point was challenged and overturned due to goalie interference. On the play, Anders Lee and Radko Gudas were tied up going to the net, causing Lee's skate to clip Bobrovsky, knocking him out of position for Pulock's drive. Gudas was issued an interference penalty for engaging with Lee - in addition to coincidental roughing minors - but the goal did not count.
At first, the overturned goal galvanized the Islanders, who recorded the next eight shots on goal, but they were unable to break through. That combo turned costly, as Mackenzie Weegar sprung an Anthony Duclair breakaway with a home-run pass that the winger was able to tuck behind Sorokin.
Wahlstrom was able to cut the Panthers' lead to 3-1, but Bennett completed the trick with a wrister from the slot at 9:39 of the third, while Barkov put salt in the wounds at 12:22.
"It's a combination of things, but we're spending too much time in our own zone," Adam Pelech said of the defensive struggles through two games. "We're getting worn out down there. It takes a toll on you. You maybe don't have the energy to close quickly and kill the play right away. It starts at the beginning of the game, every time they enter the zone we have to be dialed in with that. There's no excuses there."
Trotz said there could be changes ahead of Tuesday's game in Chicago, including potential changes on the back end.

POWER PLAY SHOWS IMPROVEMENT, NETS GOAL:

After failing to record a shot on goal in their season opener on Thursday, the Islanders power play started to find its footing on Saturday night.
The man advantage went 1-for-4, starting slow, but steadily improving throughout the game. The first power play resembled the disjointed effort from Thursday, with difficulty entering the zone and inability to get a shot on goal, but after winning a pair of key draws on their second try, the Islanders were able to set up, cycle the puck and generate quality looks on net.
The power play also broke through for its first goal of the season in the third period, with Wahlstrom snapping a shot through Bobrovsky 10 seconds into the Isles' fourth man advantage. In total, the man advantage put nine shots on goal in the contest.
At the very least, that should be a confidence boost for the Islanders special teams.
"Our power play was much better than it was then obviously than [against Carolina]," Trotz said. "That's got to be a part of our game offensively, but five-on-five we had some really looks we didn't score on. We have to score on some of those guys."

Video: FLA 5 vs NYI 1: Barry Trotz

PARISE-PAGEAU-WAHLSTROM LINE HAS ACTIVE NIGHT:

The Zach Parise, JG Pageau and Wahlstrom line was very active for the Islanders on Saturday night.
The line accounted for 11 shots on goal, including a team-high six from Pageau, and 17 total attempts on the evening. The trio looked especially dangerous in the first period, with Wahlstrom narrowly missing an open net after a slick cross-feed seam from Pageau. The line played with speed, moving the puck up the ice in transition quickly and wasn't afraid to shoot.
Wahlstrom's power-play goal punctuated a solid night for the 21-year-old, who Trotz said he had wanted to see more of through camp and the first game of the season. Wahlstrom said Saturday was a performance he could use to build off of personally.
"Just [skate in] straight lines, play up and down my lane, use my shot, that's the key," Wahlstrom said. "I'm playing with two really good players, veterans that I can learn from and lean on. Just got to keep working and string a couple games here."

NEXT GAME:

The Islanders 13-game road trip continues in Chicago, as the Isles take on the Blackhawks on Tuesday night at United Center. Puck drop is at 8 p.m. eastern.