The sting of defeat has faded for the New York Islanders, and now they must turn the page as they continue a road trip on Tuesday against the Calgary Flames.
The Islanders arrive in Calgary on the heels of a disappointing 3-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken on Saturday, a game in which they blew a third-period lead and were “robbed” — the word used by coach Patrick Roy — when a questionable late game-winning goal was scored.
The Islanders have posted one win, one loss and one overtime defeat on their road swing that finishes in Detroit after they face the Flames.
“We’ve done a pretty good job on this trip so far,” forward Matt Martin said. “Obviously we dropped a game we felt we could have won in Seattle, but we have to find a way to get two (points).”
The Islanders, who have surrendered third-period leads in two of their last three setbacks, should receive a boost. Defenseman Alexander Romanov is due to return from an upper-body injury that has cost him the past seven games.
“I should be good,” Romanov said after Monday’s practice in which he was paired with Noah Dobson. “It’s awesome to be part of the team again, not watching the games on TV or in the stands. It’s great.”
New York remains without forwards Mathew Barzal and Anthony Duclair and defensemen Adam Pelech and Mike Reilly. The team announced on Monday that during an exam for the concussion Reilly is battling, doctors found a heart condition that will take several months to fully heal.
“It’s probably a blessing in disguise of what transpired,” GM Lou Lamoriello said. “They detected this, something that you’re sometimes born with, but never knew.”
The Flames continue a four-game homestand that began with goaltender Dustin Wolf collecting his first career NHL shutout in a 2-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday.
Wolf, who lost a shutout in the final three minutes in his previous outing, has surrendered seven goals in his last four games, in which the team has posted a 3-0-1 record. He will likely take the net for a team that has often rotated starts between Wolf and Dan Vladar.
“I feel good with my game. I feel confident,” said Wolf, the rookie netminder who twice was named the AHL’s top goaltender. “I feel confident with the guys in front of me, as well. They make my life a heck of a lot easier, being able to see pucks and their sticks have been great on the seams.”
The Flames were pegged to be a bottom feeder, but thanks in big part to their goaltenders, especially Wolf, they are hanging tough in the standings.
“He’s way more comfortable than he was last year. You can really tell,” defenseman Rasmus Andersson said of Wolf. “The longer the season goes on, the more comfortable he gets. I get it, I was a young guy, too. The more you play, the more comfortable you get.”
That said, the Flames must find a new gear, especially with their struggling power play, which has managed only two goals in the past 13 games, during which they have posted a 2-for-35 mark.
“I think we’ve just go to get the work boots on,” Andersson said. “It’s too pretty at times. We have to move it quicker, get shots on net.”
–Field Level Media