Despite their spot in the standings, the Islanders knew they couldn't take the Sabres lightly on Monday. Josh Bailey had been in their position before, playing free and loose at the end of a long season and Barry Trotz went as far as to say he was worried about game after an emotional peak vs the Rangers.
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Pelech Opens Up Scoring
Wahlstrom's Redirect
"They seemed to find a way to hang around," Bailey said. "I've been on the flip side of things before and in their shoes late in the season when you know you're not going to make the playoffs. They played hard and we expect more of ourselves."
At first, the Isles took the Sabres threat seriously, going up 1-0 on Pelech's first period goal and seemingly doubling their lead before Ryan Pulock's point shot was called back due to Casey Cizikas interfering with Houser in the opening minute of the second.
The Islanders eventually got their second goal, off a Wahlstrom deflection, but took their foot off the gas and let Buffalo back into the game.
"I thought we played with a little bit of arrogance," Trotz said. "We were just saying it was going to be easy and we had a lead and then we just made it easy for them. I give them credit they played a real solid game."
Thompson gave Buffalo life with a power-play goal at 14:04 - snapping the Islanders streak of 19-consecutive penalty kills - beating Varlamov far side through a screen. Asplund tied the score, hanging around the crease and depositing a Reinhart feed after the Sabres leading scorer made a nice move around Scott Mayfield to get to the net at 11:25.
The Sabres kept pressuring in the third period - where they peppered the Isles with 17 of their 40 shots - with Reinhart eventually tipping a Rasmus Ristolainen shot at 15:56 for the game-winner. Reinhart scored an empty-netter at 19:08 to ice the game.
"We didn't play our game consistently enough and then we gave up 40 shots tonight and that's not like us," Matt Martin said. "We can feel a little humbled today and get back on the wagon tomorrow."