Notebook: Isles Shut Out for Second Straight Game in 1-0 Loss to Vegas

The New York Islanders were shut out for a second straight game, falling to the Vegas Golden Knights 1-0 at T-Mobile Arena.
Reilly Smith scored the game's only goal at 19:25 of the second period, but that was enough to beat the snake-bit Islanders, who were blanked in consecutive games for the first time since March 19-21, 2019. Marc-Andre Fleury made 19 saves for his 60th career shutout, while Semyon Varlamov stopped 42-of-43 in defeat.
BOXSCORE | TROTZ POSTGAME

"We have to find a way to win a hockey game," Head Coach Barry Trotz said. "There were some good things in the game, the first and third, but the second period I didn't care for. It was a shame that we wasted a good goaltending effort by Varly."

SECOND PERIOD SINKS ISLES:

After falling 5-0 in Nashville on Thursday night, the Islanders seemed like a safe bet to come out ready for Saturday's contest. The game started with a bang, as Ross Johnston dropped the gloves with Ryan Reaves on the opening draw, the first of two fights on the nights between the Isles and Knights.
After a close and scoreless first period, the Golden Knights controlled much of the second, outshooting the Islanders 20-4 in the middle frame. The 20 shots was the most allowed by the Islanders in any period this season.
Despite the constant pressure - and because of a handful of big saves from Varlamov - the Isles looked like they were going to get out of the period in a scoreless draw, but Vegas broke through with 34 seconds to play in the period.
Smith scored his 22nd goal of the season capping off a sequence that started with a miscue behind the Islanders' net. Varlamov and Nick Leddy had a miscommunication and left a puck in no man's land, where it scooped up by Jonathan Marchessault, deflected off of Johnny Boychuk and right to Smith, who missed his first try, but converted on the rebound.
"I didn't mind our first and third, but in the second period we lost way too many battles," Trotz said. "It's been one thing or another over the last few games where an execution or a play where we don't commit to it and it ends up in the back of our net. And we have to score a goal we haven't score a goal in two games. We've had some chances. Offensively towards the end of the game when we had the goalie out we saw the intensity around the net, we have to have that intensity all 200 feet."

Video: VGK 1 vs NYI 0: Barry Trotz

ISLES FEELING SNAKE-BIT AFTER TWO SHUTOUT LOSSES:

After scoring 10 goals in two games earlier this week, the Islanders' offense has dried up in the Nevada desert.
It was hard for the Isles to not feel a little snake-bitten on Saturday night, especially as Leddy's second period shot clanked off the crossbar and a post before popping out. Mathew Barzal had Fleury on his stomach in the first period, but while he pulled the puck around the Vegas goalie, couldn't tuck it home from below the goal line. Jordan Eberle had a quality look in the third, but couldn't raise his backhander over Fleury's pad.
"That's a crazy bounce, post-post," Barzal said of Leddy's shot, which whistled by his head en route. "That's hockey sometimes. Bounces go your way, sometimes they don't. We couldn't get one."
The Isles best offensive pressure came at the tail end of the game, as they peppered Fleury in the last two minutes with their net empty. Ryan Pulock stepped into a big slapper, but unlike his last-minute winner vs Philly on Tuesday, couldn't power one past Fleury, adding to the overall offensive frustration on the night.
"It's a maddening loss. We did some good things at times, but we fell short," Josh Bailey said.

Tweet from @NYIslanders: HOW?? WOW!! pic.twitter.com/lr6mrj2pmb

VARLAMOV MAKES SAVE OF THE YEAR CONTENDER:

Varlamov was one of the bright spots for the Islanders on Saturday, stopping a season-high 42 shots. Vegas' sharpshooters kept trying to go blocker side on the Isles' netminder, but Varlamov was seeing pucks and helped keep the Isles within striking distance till the final buzzer.
In the process, Varlamov delivered another save of the year contender, diving across his net to get a stick on an open try for Paul Stastny on the doorstep. It was reminiscent of his save vs Boston on Dec. 19, but only one of the few desperation efforts he needed to make on Saturday in what was otherwise a positionally-sound, solid performance.

Video: VGK 1 vs NYI 0: Mat Barzal

JOHNSTON, KUHNHACKL IN FOR BELLOWS AND BARDREAU:

Ross Johnston and Tom Kuhnhackl both drew back into the lineup on Saturday, replacing Kieffer Bellows and Cole Bardreau.
Kuhnhackl returned to the lineup for the first time since Feb. 1, skating on the third line with Derick Brassard and Cole Bardreau. Johnston last played on Feb. 10 against Washington, skating with Matt Martin and Leo Komarov, the latter shifting back to center.
Trotz put Johnston back into the lineup to counteract Vegas' size and physicality. The 6'5, 232 lbs. winger went to work early, dropping the gloves with the NHL's heavyweight champ - Ryan Reaves - off the opening faceoff. Johnston held his own against Reaves, landing a couple of solid body shots. Johnston finished the game with 7:59 TOI and four hits.
Kuhnhackl played 11:00 in his return, including 2:05 shorthanded, the second-most of any Islanders forward (Leo Komarov played 2:20 SH).

NEXT GAME:

The Islanders take on the Arizona Coyotes in a President's Day matinee. Puck drop is at 4 p.m. eastern.