5 Takeaways: Islanders Fall 2-0 to Devils

The New York Islanders were shut out 2-0 by the New Jersey Devils on Sunday night at Prudential Center in the second-straight game against their Tri-State rival. The game kicked off the Islanders first stop of a five-game road trip.
Jack Hughes and Pavel Zacha accounted for New Jersey's scoring while Scott Wedgewood, who picked up his first win since Feb. 13, 2018, earned the shutout and made his second-straight start for the Devils. Mackenzie Blackwood was sidelined again after missing Thursday's game due to being placed on the NHL's COVID protocol list.

For the Islanders, rookie netminder Ilya Sorokin made his second-career start in net and made 22 saves on 24 shots.
After facing the Devils three nights earlier at Nassau Coliseum, where they picked up a sturdy 4-1 victory, the Islanders felt like the Devils flipped the script on them and shut them down, especially offensively, in a similar fashion as they had previously enforced.
"We weren't willing to get greasy enough to get one in," Head Coach Barry Trotz said. "I give some credit to their goalkeeper, he played well, but they played well in front of him. We made it too easy on them. We were on the perimeter just as much as New Jersey Devils Head Coach Lindy Ruff] talked about his team not being able to get in the inside or didn't want to get on the inside [on Thursday]. We didn't do enough of that early in the game. We did it more in the third. It was more the things we have to do that we couldn't find the back of the net."
**ISLANDERS AT DEVILS**
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Postgame: Trotz
Postgame: Bailey & Leddy
Postgame: Lee & Sorokin
Here are five takeaways from Sunday's loss.

1. ISLANDERS CHASE GAME

Heading into the contest, the Islanders noted how difficult it is to play a team back-to-back and Sunday's result upheld that perception. After smothering New Jersey's offense on Thursday, the Islanders found themselves chasing the game against a determined Devils group on Sunday.
"Give them credit, they played a better game," Josh Bailey said. "We certainly didn't. There were times where we were creating, but it's tough when you get behind and the ice isn't very good, it's tough to claw your way back into it. It puts even that much more emphasis on having a good start. We were pushing in the third, just couldn't find a way."
Right off the opening faceoff, the Islanders were forced on their heels as the Devils came out flying and generating chances on the fly. Through the first five minutes of the game, the Islanders were without a shot compared to New Jersey's four.
The momentum shifted in favor of the Islanders with their first power play of the game that was awarded 7:11 into the period as a result of a call on Damon Severson high-sticking Anders Lee. The Islanders power play unit didn't convert, but it generated six shots on goal during the two minutes, with the majority of the promising looks coming from the Noah Dobson, Ryan Pulock, Mathew Barzal, Jordan Eberle and Lee unit.
The pendulum of momentum would swing back in favor of the Devils during the final expiring minutes of the period. New Jersey capitalized on their first power play of the game as Scott Mayfield took a visit to the penalty box for hooking with 4:37 on the clock.
Hughes got the Devils on the board with 3:00 in the period as the sophomore forward collected a pass at the top of the right faceoff circle, walked in and sniped his shot bar down and just over Sorokin's right shoulder. Prior to Hughes' power-play goal, the Islanders penalty kill had only allowed one goal against through 15 times (93.3%) shorthanded so far this season.
Video: NYI Recap: Eberle, Islanders shut out by Devils, 2-0
Two minutes later, New Jersey doubled its lead 2-0 heading into the first intermission. Sorokin was unable to control Nikita Gusev's initial shot from distance and the Islanders couldn't clean up the crease before Zacha buried the loose puck. The Devils second goal also provided defenseman Ty Smith with his second assist of the night and extended his point streak to five games.
The Devils continued to control most of the game in the second period and the Islanders largely spent the period in their own zone. New Jersey earned its second power-play of the game early in the period as Ross Johnston went to the box for goaltender interference with 16:29 on the clock. On the man advantage, Zacha nearly made it a 3-0 game as he almost buried his second of the night on the doorstep. Fortunately for the Islanders, the puck caromed across the post and they averted a further dagger.
The Islanders generated a golden chance seven minutes into the second period, in a transition play up ice - in which Anthony Beauvillier was injured in the neutral zone and went straight to the room - the Islanders nearly got on the board. As the Islanders entered New Jersey's zone and circled the puck, Mayfield slung a point shot to the boards to find Jordan Eberle all alone down low. Wedgewood slid across just in time to get his blocker on Eberle's attempt and preserve his shutout for the time being.
"When [Beauvillier] went down, we had a little bit of a push," Trotz said. "I thought our second and third [period] I think our chances, in the last two periods, were pretty one-sided. We didn't give up much, but we also didn't create enough. In the second, it was really hard, we got some chances but they weren't very difficult. It was too easy for their goaltender. The third period, we did a better job of making it tougher."
Finally, in the third period the Islanders had more jump in their game, outshooting the Devils 12-4 in the final frame. While their chances picked up and their looks were more promising, New Jersey continued to win little battles across the ice and showcase a desperate effort that became enough to preserve their two-goal shutout.

2. BEAUVILLIER LEAVES GAME

Video: NJD 2 NYI 0: Barry Trotz
Anthony Beauvillier left the game just over six minutes into the second period after being on the receiving end of an open-ice hit from Nathan Bastian. Beauvillier immediately skated over to the Islanders bench as what would become one of the Islanders best chances of the period proceeded to unfold. Beauvillier was briefly assessed before heading to the locker room and did not return for the remainder of the game.
The 24-year-old winger logged 7:16 prior to his injury, but was held without a shot.
Troz did not have an update on Beauvillier, but noted their depth would be tested if the forward is unavailable for the Islanders' next game.
"I don't have an update on [Beauvillier] now for you," Trotz said postgame. "If [Beauvillier] is not in next game. Then, there's an opportunity for someone to jump in. That's where the competition comes in. That's why we try to prepare everybody. When things come, sometimes they come fast and you've got to react to it."

3. SOROKIN STARTS

Video: NJD 2 NYI 0: Sorokin & Lee
Sorokin made his second-career start on Sunday and made 22 saves. While he would have preferred to have picked up his first-career win, Sorokin noted in his postgame availability that he had a better showing in this game than in his debut on Jan. 16, where he had little notice - Semyon Varlamov was injured during warmups - and relinquished five goals to the New York Rangers.
"I feel good today. Better [than] the first game," Sorokin said. "It's very disappointing with second game and [a] second loss, but the team helped me, teammates helped me and I hope with work, it'll be good."
The Russian rookie looked solid to start the game as he denied a few Grade A chances early on, including denying Travis Zajac on an odd-man rush five-minutes into the first period. Sorokin also stoned a backdoor chance for Miles Wood with just over six minutes left in the frame.
The rest of the game, Sorokin saw most action off odd-man rushes or shots from distance. While still adjusting to North American hockey and the frenzied traffic that crowds the netfront in the NHL, Trtoz has confidence that the 25-year-old will only continue to improve with every game.
"He's learning this league a little bit," Trotz said. "The second [goal], was a little bit of that rebound control, [the puck] got away from him and they got that second [goal]. Other than that, I thought he played pretty solid. He made some key saves where you could see how athletic he is. The more he plays in the league the more he'll get used to it. We'll get him a win."

4. DAL COLLE DRAWS IN THE LINEUP

Video: NJD 2 vs NYI 0: Bailey & Leddy
Ahead of Sunday night's game, Trotz noted that the lineups during the Islanders' five-game road trip might vary game-by-game. Along with Sorokin, Dal Colle was the second tweak the Islanders made to the lineup to face the Devils. In doing so, Dal Colle made his season debut - and was activated off IR (undisclosed injury) - as he drew in the lineup in place of Kieffer Bellows.
Dal Colle skated alongside Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Ross Johnston and logged 10:49.
After Beauvillier went to the room 7:50 into the second period following a hit in the Islanders' zone, Dal Colle spent the remainder of the period taking shifts with Brock Nelson and Bailey. In the third period, as the Islanders looked to get the offense going and jumbled their lines, Dal Colle was paired with Cizikas and Johnston for a stretch.

5. DOMINATE DRAWS

While the Islanders were admittedly outplayed by the Devils, the faceoff circle was one area they continued to excel at. The Islanders finished the game winning 61% of faceoffs.
With depth down the middle, with Barzal, Nelson, Pageau and Cizikas centering the Islanders, the group has been dominate in the circle throughout this season. Coming into Sunday's game, the Islanders were ranked second overall in the league with a faceoff win percentage of 57.2%.
Against the Devils, Barzal finished five-for-seven (71%), Nelson won two-of-nine (22%), Pageau picked up 13-of-19 wins (68%) and Cizikas won 5-of-10 (50%). Also of note, Lee - who rotates taking draws with Barzal depending on which side of the ice the faceoff is on - had the highest faceoff win percentage of the group as the captain won 10-of-12 draws (83%).
"Face-offs are so important," Lee said. "It's tough, it really starts possession of the shift and we have some great center men on our team who can win draws in [Pageau, Nelson and Cizikas]. [Barzal] and I split up quite a bit depending on the side so you just try to go in there. Worst case you can't lose it clean. A tie in most cases is actually just fine, but if you can snap it back it definitely creates and you start on the right foot."

NEXT GAME:

The Islanders travel down to Washington for the next stop of their five-game road trip. The Islanders will play the Capitals at Capital One Arena on Tuesday with a 7 p.m. puck drop.