Islanders fall to Kraken on late third-period goal as point streak is snapped
Seattle Kraken defenseman Joshua Mahura (28) skates against Islanders right wing Simon Holmstrom (10) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. Credit: AP/Rio Giancarlo
SEATTLE — The Islanders had their season-best point streak snapped with a 3-2 loss to the Kraken on Saturday afternoon at Climate Pledge Arena.
Defenseman Jamie Oleksiak scored the winner from the point at 16:47 of the third period, a goal that withstood a challenge of goalie interference from the Islanders.
The Islanders (7-7-4), on the third stop of a five-game road trip, had entered the match on a 3-0-2 run after Thursday’s 5-2 win in Vancouver which was their best 60-minute effort of the season.
Ilya Sorokin made 24 saves, again being denied his 100th regular-season victory.
The Islanders took a 2-1 lead on Brock Nelson’s shorthanded rush at 4:49 of the third period as the puck slowly rolled past a prone Joey Daccord (22 saves). Daccord preserved the Kraken’s win by denying a second shorthanded rush by Nelson at 18:10 of the third period.
Jared McCann, also on a rush, lifted a wrist shot from the slot to tie it at 2-2 at 5:26 of the third period.
Pierre Engvall scored in back-to-back games — his first two goals of the season after being sent to the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport following a poor training camp — with both goals coming off rebounds. This time, Engvall knocked in the rebound of defenseman Ryan Pulock’s shot to tie it at 1-1 at 13:38 of the first period.
Yanni Gourde, whose shorthanded goal was the difference in the Islanders 1-0 Game 7 loss to the Lightning in the Eastern Conference finals in 2021, had given the Kraken (9-8-1) a 1-0 lead at 8:10 after Brandon Tanev’s shot went in off his body as he battled defenseman Isaiah George for position at the crease.
Notes & quotes: Nelson’s grandfather, Bill Christian, who helped lead Team USA to the gold medal in the 1960 Winter Olympics, was in attendance . . . Forward Hudson Fasching remained a healthy scratch . . . Kraken captain Jordan Eberle, who played for the Islanders from 2017-2021 before being selected in the expansion draft, was not available after getting hurt in Thursday’s 3-1 win over Chicago.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
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