NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Islanders Overcome Predators in Shootout

Once you looked past the performance of Semyon Varlamov on Tuesday, the focal point really was the way the Islanders played in their 4-3 shootout win over the Predators.

After coach Pete DeBoer decided to use 11 forwards and seven defensemen, essentially issuing a challenge to his team following what he deemed their first poor outing of the season in Dallas, the Islanders responded effectively.

It wasn’t without its flaws—at one point, they nearly let a 3-0 lead slip away, and in overtime, they had a chance to score during a 4-on-3 but came up short. However, the Islanders displayed qualities that had been missing in their previous game against the Stars.

The team was aggressive, their skating was strong, and their passing was sharp. A standout moment came early in the second period when they kept the puck moving around the zone for nearly a full minute before Matthew Schaefer found Bo Horvat for a one-timer that put them up 3-0.

“We got back to our identity tonight,” Brayden Schenn remarked. “We know we have to play that way to be successful. It’s a gritty, hard-nosed game. Play good defense.”

Still, the remainder of the game was far from straightforward.

The Predators clawed back into the game with a power-play goal by Filip Forsberg at 9:42 of the second period, making it 3-1. Things then became a bit chaotic.

Just over three minutes later, a turnover by Schaefer led to Alexander Kerfoot scoring and narrowing the gap to 3-2.

An ineffective power play followed for the Islanders, and the Predators took advantage. Daemon Hunt’s shot found its way through Varlamov’s pads, allowing Ryan O’Reilly to equalize at 4:16 in the third.

Late in regulation, the Islanders found themselves under pressure, needing some scrambling defense to push the game into overtime, where they eventually secured the extra point.

When Schaefer was tripped at the start of overtime, the Islanders managed to tire out the Predators with a prolonged possession during a delayed call that lasted nearly a minute and a half.

Yet, despite having the advantage, they could not capitalize on the power play, choosing to leave Schaefer, Horvat, and Simon Holmstrom off the ice for a significant stretch. (Remarkably, Schaefer played a career-high 32:16, and became the first player in the post-lockout era to go the full five minutes during overtime.)

Ultimately, Kyle Palmieri and Horvat scored in the shootout to secure the victory.

“I thought it was a great response, and I knew we would get that response,” DeBoer commented. “I think the guys knew it, and they came out and played great.”