3 Takeaways: Isles Pepper Preds, Lose 4-1

The New York Islanders lost to the Nashville Predators 4-1 on Friday night at UBS Arena.
The Islanders outshot the Predators 49 to 23, with 49 shots being a season-high for the team. Mathew Barzal scored the only goal for the Islanders on the power play, but it was not enough to counteracta three-point night from Matt Duchene (1G, 2A), as well as goals from Filip Forsberg (1G, 1A), Roman Josi (1G, 1A) and Mikael Granlund.

Special teams were the difference in the game, with no goals coming at five-on-five. Three came on the power play - two for Nashville and one by the Islanders - while the final two goals came with the net empty.
The Islanders are winless in their last nine games against the Predators dating back to Oct. 28, 2017. The Islanders have gone 0-7-2 against Nashville in this span.
"We had our looks and our chances tonight," Anders Lee said. "Pretty solid game, we just didn't get the bounce or two that we needed, so it's a little frustrating for sure, but we play like that, most nights we're going to be just fine, but tough one to swallow."

PENALTY KILL FALTERS

The Islanders lost the special teams battle, allowing two goals on the power play - one during a four-on-threes. Filip Forsberg scored the first goal against, a one-timer on a quick cross-ice feed from Matt Duchene, and Roman Josi banked a point shot off the bar and in.
The Islanders took untimely penalties, including two just seven seconds apart to turn a second period power play into a four-on-three penalty kill, and allowed the goal just eight seconds into it.
PREDATORS 4, ISLANDERS 1
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Barzal's PPG
The power play, which had been hot as of late, brought them back in the game with a goal from Mathew Barzal in the third period, his third goal of the season. The goal was the Islanders' sixth power-play goal in their last five games, scoring a power-play goal in each.
"On a night like this, we kept pushing, one's going to go," Lee said. "We got one on the power play, but needed one at five on five there at the end."

ISLANDERS STRUGGLE TO FINISH

The lack of goals on the scoreboard were not indicative of a lack of opportunity for the Islanders. Video review kept an Anders Lee goal off the scoreboard that was short of the line by a hair in the first period. Mathew Barzal had two strong breakaway chances, one in the second and one in the third, and a quality redirection on a cross-ice feed in the middle frame. Barzal tied his career-high with nine shots on goal.
Simon Holmstrom hit the crossbar in the first period, and Alexander Romanov's rebound attempt after a Bailey breakaway was saved by Ryan McDonagh's face.
"When shots do come through, there were times when we were off to the side of the net, and that's not going to get it done against any goalie," Head Coach Lane Lambert said. "Certainly, in this league, if they can see the puck clearly, they're going to make the save."
According to Natural Stat Trick, the Islanders had 16 high danger chances to the Predators' five, at five-on-five. They also outshot the Predators 49 to 23, and 40 to 16 in the final 40 minutes. The 49 shots in the game is the Islanders' season high, and 48 saves is a career-high for Predators goaltender Kevin Lankinen.
"There's always a shot that can go in," Barzal said. "We just have to place a few better."

BARDREAU MAKES SEASON DEBUT, BAILEY RETURNS

Cole Bardreau was called up from Bridgeport on Thursday in place of the injured Cal Clutterbuck, who is day-to-day with an upper body injury. Bardreau has nine points (5G, 4A) in 19 games with Bridgeport this year. Bardreau played 10 games for the Islanders in 2019-20, recording two points (1G, 1A) and scoring his only goal on a memorable penalty shot attempt.
Bardreau played 6:00 TOI primarily with Casey Cizikas and Matt Martin. Bardreau took one minor penalty and had two hits.
Josh Bailey returned after missing Tuesday night's game in Philadelphia with an upper-body injury. Bailey played 13:43 and had two shots on goal.

NEXT GAME

The Islanders host the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday night at 7:30 p.m. It's also Clark Gillies legends night and the first 10,000 fans in attendance will take home a Gillies bobblehead.