Recap: Isles Like Effort, Not Result in 2-1 Loss to Red Wings

The New York Islanders were happy with the process on Saturday afternoon, but not the result, as they fell 2-1 to the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena.
The Islanders outshot the Red Wings 42-22 on Saturday, but a tremendous 41-save performance from Jonathan Bernier was the difference. On another day, the same effort should yield a much better result, both Head Coach Barry Trotz and his players said after Saturday's loss.
"It's frustrating, I thought we played a pretty good game," Thomas Hickey said. "Their goaltender was excellent. It's one of those games. You go through 82 games and if you play like that, you're going to win most of them, but not tonight."

ISLES STYMIED BY BERNIER:

It certainly wasn't for a lack of chances on Saturday.
The Islanders outshot the Red Wings by a healthy margin all night, but despite a 30-12 shot advantage through two periods, the Isles found themselves down 2-1. The shot totals were a little more even in the third period (12-10 Isles), but while the quantity of the chances went down, the quality went up.
Valtteri Filppula had Bernier dead-to-rights off his second rebound, but the sprawling Red Wings goalie knocked the puck out of the air with his goal stick in a last-ditch effort with six minutes to play. Ryan Pulock rang a shot off the post down the stretch and with seconds remaining on the clock, Devon Toews couldn't stuff a loose puck home.
"We probably had 25, 30 chances here. Today we hit posts, they did a good job and Bernier had one of those nights," Trotz said. "If he doesn't have that night, you're probably sitting here with a 4-1 win."
On a night where the Isles grade-A chances wouldn't go, it was extra frustrating to see Andreas Athanasiou's centering feed deflect off Pulock and in at 2:59 of the first period. Athanasiou finished the night with both Red Wings goals, stuffing a Danny DeKeyser slap pass in at the side of the net at 9:57 of the third period.
"It's discouraging, but it doesn't have to last for too long," Hickey said. "We have another chance tomorrow and I like our chances if we play like that again."
The loss means the Islanders (89 points) stay two points back of the Washington Capitals (91 points) for the Metropolitan Division lead, though the Capitals play on Saturday night vs Tampa Bay. The Islanders did get some relief in the form of St. Louis' 5-1 win over Pittsburgh on Saturday, keeping the Penguins (87 points) at bay.

LEE SCORES FOR THIRD STRAIGHT GAME:

Anders Lee scored the Isles lone goal on Saturday afternoon, his team-leading 26th of the season, extending his scoring streak to three straight games.
Lee's goal, which tied the score 1-1 at 10:18 of the first period, came just after an Islanders power play expired, as Toews quickly moved the puck up ice to Brock Nelson, who fed the captain in the slot for a quick five-hole snap on Bernier.
The three-game goal streak matched Lee's second-longest this season and is one shy of matching his season-high. Lee scored a goal in four straight games from Nov. 29-Dec. 6.
"He's just playing good hockey right now, winning battles, going to the net and getting good looks," Mathew Barzal said. "He's a proven goal scorer, so he's doing his job and playing great."

CIZIKAS A LATE SCRATCH, KUHNHACKL IN:

Casey Cizikas was a late scratch for Saturday's game, leaving warmups with an lower-body strain, according to Trotz.
Tom Kuhnhackl drew into the lineup, but it was Leo Komarov who moved into Cizikas' spot between Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck. As a team, the Islanders dropped to 12-11-1 when the Isles identity line is not intact.
Trotz said Cizikas, who was given a maintenance day by the Islanders on Friday due to a previous illness and wear and tear, is a possibility for Sunday's game vs Minnesota.
The Isles coach also said Johnny Boychuk, who has missed three straight games with an upper-body injury, is available for Sunday's contest.

NEXT GAME:

The Islanders wrap up a back-to-back weekend set on Sunday evening against the Minnesota Wild.