The New York Islanders lost 7-3 to the Montreal Canadiens at Centre Bell on March 22, marking their second consecutive defeat. Emil Heineman, Simon Holmstrom, and Matthew Schaefer scored for the Islanders, but Montreal’s top line proved too strong.
Cole Caufield led the Canadiens with a five-point performance, including three goals and two assists. Juraj Slafkovsky contributed two goals and two assists, while Nick Suzuki added four assists. Defenseman Kaiden Guhle had a goal and two assists, and Alex Newhook also scored for Montreal.
This was only the second time this season that the Islanders allowed seven goals in a game. Goaltender Ilya Sorokin was pulled after giving up six goals on 32 shots in an effort to rest him for Sunday’s game against Columbus. David Rittich came in as relief, stopping three of four shots. Jacob Fowler made 19 saves on 22 shots for Montreal.
The loss was compounded by wins from both the Pittsburgh Penguins and Columbus Blue Jackets earlier in the day. As a result, the Islanders remain out of a playoff spot—two points behind Columbus for third place in the Metropolitan Division and one point behind Detroit for the second Wild Card position in the Eastern Conference.
The Islanders allowed four goals in the third period and have now given up six third-period goals over their last two games. “The other night it was too many battles that were lost,” Anders Lee said. “Tonight it was more they made plays through us, and we had a couple missed assignments.” Ryan Pulock said: “Once we gave up that one to give them the lead again in the third we just kind of broke down after that. What’s important is a regroup in here. Tomorrow’s huge, so that’s where our focus has to be.”
Head Coach Patrick Roy said he felt momentum shift during the second period when Montreal scored twice within just over a minute to erase an Islanders lead: “Instead of going up 3-1,” Roy said, Montreal turned it into a deficit with quick strikes from Newhook and Caufield.
Special teams played a significant role; while New York went two-for-three on power plays, they killed only one of four penalties—the first time they’ve allowed three power-play goals since facing the Rangers at Stadium Series two years ago.
Heineman reached his first career 20-goal season with his tally Saturday night—joining Bo Horvat (28) and Matthew Schaefer (21) as Islanders players with at least 20 goals this season. Holmstrom gave New York its only lead early with a breakaway goal; Schaefer’s goal brought him within one of tying Brian Leetch’s record for most rookie defenseman goals in NHL history.
