3 Takeaways: Isles Point Streak Ends in 5-2 Loss to Wild

The New York Islanders point streak ended at seven games, as the Isles fell 5-2 to the Minnesota Wild on Sunday night at Xcel Energy Center.
Anders Lee scored both Islanders goals, but it was not enough to counter tallies from Nick Bjugstad, Ryan Hartman, Brandon Duhaime, Jonas Brodin (ENG) and Matt Dumba (ENG). The Islanders took a 2-1 lead into the third period, but a pair of quick strikes from Hartman and Duhaime tipped the scales.
Semyon Varlamov stopped 34-of-37 shots in his season debut. Kaapo Kahkonen stopped 19-of-21 in the win. The loss was the Islanders first in regulation since Oct. 16, ending a 5-0-2 run.

ISLES POINT STREAK ENDS:

It doesn't happen often, but Sunday marked one of the not-so-frequent nights where the Islanders couldn't hold a third-period lead.
Armed with a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes, Minnesota turned up the heat in the final frame rallying from a third period deficit for a second time in as many nights. Entering Sunday, the Wild had rallied for two wins when down two goals entering the third.
Minnesota scored twice in a 2:01 stretch, with Hartman and Duhaime each beating Semyon Varlamov high glove side. After leading by one, the Islanders found themselves trailing, as well as being heavily outshot, 16-2, in the final frame.
"They came out with a strong push to start the period," Martin said. "We don't give up a lot of leads going into the third period over the last three years, but their home crowd was behind them, they scored a couple of nice goals."
ISLANDERS AT WILD
ISLANDERS ARTICLES
Gamecenter
Rapid Recap
ISLANDERS-WILD VIDEO
Full Highlights
Postgame: Trotz
Postgame: Barzal and Lee
Postgame: Chara and Martin
The Islanders refused to blame the game on playing for the third time in four nights, crediting Minnesota for their high-pressure style and capitalizing.
"We knew we were facing a team with a lot of depth," Zdeno Chara said. "They came into the third with a little bit more jump. They were playing more on their toes. We were just sitting on that lead and not playing the way we are capable of. It's something that we can take away from this game and be better down the road."
The pace of the third period reflected that of the up-tempo game. After the Islanders forced the Winnipeg Jets to play an Islanders-style, grind-em-out game on Saturday, the Islanders found themselves playing at Minnesota's frantic pace.
It showed early in the shot attempts, with Minnesota generating 26 attempts in the first period alone. The Islanders, true to their resilient form, were able to take the early punch and countered with Lee's first goal of the evening with 18 seconds to play in the period.
The momentum seemingly carried into the second period, as the Islanders slowed the pace early, taking away time and space. The momentum only shifted after a Wild power play, resulting in a Nick Bjugstad tying goal, a deflection off a Duhaime shot.
While Minnesota continued to press, the Wild's all gas, no brakes approach allowed the Islanders a chance to counter with high-danger opportunities, mainly odd-man rushes. Casey Cizikas, playing in his 600th game, had a pair of two-on-one opportunities in the second period and by the time Barzal and Lee had their own, the duo made no mistake, with Lee netting his second of the game.
The pace only picked up after Lee's second goal, with the teams playing without a whistle in the final 6:21 of the second period.
"They're a team that can create a lot of offense and transition really well," Lee said. "They definitely came at us all night, but until the third period we did a really good job of maintaining some of what we like to do - keeping it on the outside. They were throwing a lot of stuff at the net tonight, so it creates a lot of havoc. They were just able to execute on a couple of their chances in the third."

VARLAMOV MAKES SEASON DEBUT:

There was no easing into Semyon Varlamov's season debut on Sunday night.
The Islanders goaltender saw plenty of action his first game of the 2021-22 campaign, thrown into the fire by a fast and hungry Minnesota team content to throw pucks on net from all angles.
Varlamov totaled 14 saves in the first period, which included several goalmouth scrambles, wraparound tries and plays off the rush. His best save early was a redirection off the rush from pinching defenseman - and Wild captain - Jared Spurgeon. The veteran goalie helped his team survive a Wild push early before stabilizing in the second half of the period. In the process, the Isles extended their streak to eight games without allowing a first-period goal.
A Bjugstad deflection was the first puck to elude Varlamov, coming moments after the Islanders goaltender made a quality pad save in tight. Duhaime collected the rebound, regrouped and put a shot into traffic, hitting Bjugstad.
The Islanders got it back quickly though and Varlamov played a role in the offense, kicking a rebound out to Barzal, sending the speedy center on a two-on-one rush with Lee that made it a 2-1 game.
Varlamov later bailed out Noah Dobson when the defenseman made an ill-advised drop pass in his own zone, giving Nico Sturm a one-on-one chance. Varlamov stuck with Sturm, forcing him to the outside and sprawling out to make a save.
Minnesota eventually broke through in a busy third period, with Hartman and Duhaime each beating Varlamov glove side in a 2:01 span. Varlamov kept the Islanders within one until the dying minutes, when the Wild potted a pair of empty netters.
Despite the loss, Islanders felt it was a solid debut from Varlamov.
"Varly was Varly," Matt Martin said. "I didn't think he looked rusty at all. He made some key stops early when they had their push and then some key stops in the third when they had their push. They were just able to find a loose puck on one and then scored a pretty nice goal coming down the wing. He gave us a chance to win tonight. We've just got to find a way to do a better job in front of him."

LEE LIGHTS LAMP AGAIN:

After going six games without a point, Lee now has goals in back-to-back games, bringing his season total to four.
Lee scored the first one in semi-typical Lee fashion, battling for space in the slot before capitalizing on a Chara rebound. Lee's second of the night was a quality finish on a two-on-one with Barzal.
While the goals were in a losing cause, the Edina, MN, native said it's always a good feeling to score at Xcel Energy Center with family and friends in the crowd. As dissatisfied as the home fans were about an Islander goal, there were audible cheers for Lee during the PA announcements.
"It's always special to play in front of family and friends," Lee said. "A lot of people had a lot of part in me getting to this point, so you get to kind of share in all those moments that lead up to being able to play in the NHL. To be able to share a night like this in front of them it's always special."

NEXT GAME:

After playing three games in four nights, the Islanders have three days without a game before taking on the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night at Prudential Center. Puck drop is at 7 p.m.