Isles Postgame: Blues 3, Islanders 2 SO

One point is the consolation prize in the NHL, but the New York Islanders earned theirs in Monday's 3-2 shootout loss to St. Louis.
The Islanders were eyeing a shutout midway through the third period, but rallied out of a 2-0 hole with seven minutes to play to force overtime and earn the important point.

"It's a big point," Head Coach Doug Weight said. "Being down 2-0 to that hockey club, home or road, we'll take the point. We would have loved to get two, but we're not too greedy right now. It was a good fight back we had."

Andrew Ladd was the first to break through Jake Allen (40 saves) on Monday, beating the Blues goalie with a low wrist shot through traffic, a simple play after Allen previously stopped a series of grade-A chances for the Islanders.
Anders Lee then swept Thomas Hickey's rebound past the Blues net minder with 59.6 seconds to play - and the Islanders net empty.
"We battled back for a point tonight," Lee said.
The Islanders nearly capped the comeback in overtime, as John Tavares and Jordan Eberle - the Islanders' first forward duo out for 3-on-3 - were denied on the doorstep. Nick Leddy took a worthwhile penalty to break up a Blues 2-on-0 rush shortly after.

In the shootout, Brayden Schenn and Vladimir Tarasenko scored for the Blues, while Eberle and Anthony Beauvillier were unable to convert. Tarasenko scored both Blues' goals in regulation.
With the OT loss, the Islanders record stands at 1-1-1, while the Blues improve to 3-0-0.

THOMAS GREISS REBOUNDS:

After getting pulled in the Islanders' season opener, Thomas Greiss rebounded with a solid 33-save performance on Monday afternoon.
Greiss' best work came in the third period, keeping the Islanders within striking distance after they fell behind 2-0. His best save came four minutes into the third period, lunging across his crease to rob Vladimir Sobotka of an empty net. Greiss was sharp in overtime, turning aside an odd-man rush and holding the fort during a 4-on-3 power play.

Greiss' only blemishes were a sneaky backhander by Tarasenko in the second period and then a high shot from the Blues sharpshooter from the top of the circle on a St. Louis power play.
"He played great today," head coach Doug Weight said. "He's a battler and he showed that after us getting down. He was a big part of us being able to scratch and claw a point out of this one."

POWER PLAY LOOKING FOR BREAKTHROUGH:

The Islanders power play showed improvement on Monday, but couldn't break though for their first goal of the season, going 0-6.
Jordan Eberle set up a pair of grade-A chances for the Islanders, whipping a puck from the corner to an open John Tavares out front and threading a cross-crease pass to Mathew Barzal. The chances were encouraging signs for the top unit, but didn't result in goals on Monday. The Islanders had a stretch of 4:38 - including a 1:22 five-on-three - with the man advantage in the second period, but couldn't convert.

Still, the chances were an encouraging sign for a power play looking to find its way.
"After the first couple of penalties we were definitely moving the puck a lot better, getting shots and had a few opportunities and a couple stuffs we almost had, so it's right there," Lee said. "Once we start getting shots and creating chaos for them it's going to open up, right now we're trying to make a little bit of the perfect play. We have to work through these kinks."

NEXT GAME:

The Islanders head Anaheim to play the Ducks on Wednesday night, kicking off a three-game California road trip. Puck drop is at 10 p.m. E.T.