Recap: Isles Fall To Lightning 1-0 in Shootout

It's not often that shutting out the NHL's top team isn't enough for two points, but that was the case on Friday night, as the New York Islanders fell 1-0 in a shootout to the Tampa Bay Lightning at NYCB Live.
Technically, the Isles became the first team this season to hold the Lightning without a goal through regulation, but a second point eluded them as Victor Hedman recorded the lone shootout tally.
There aren't many good-looking losses in hockey, but that one might be one of the few exceptions.

"We took pride in what tonight was," captain Anders Lee said, highlighting the Isles effort on the heels of a nine-day break. "It was a playoff-feel type of game and you've got the number one team in the league coming to your building, you rise to the occasion and I thought we did that."

Despite the lack of scoring, the Isles and Bolts delivered an entertaining tilt. It was hard-hitting, nasty, and fast-paced with chances at both ends. On top of that, it was a goalie duel, as Thomas Greiss made 41 saves to extend his personal shutout streak to 146:48 (regulation and overtime), while Andrei Vasilevskiy made 36 saves in the win.
"It was a fun hockey game, you can't ask for a better test coming out of a break, I thought we answered the call," Cal Clutterbuck said. "I don't think our execution was probably where it normally is, but that comes back pretty quickly. As far as our legs and all that, I think the structure in our game was still there."
With the point, the Islanders extend their point streak to seven games (5-0-2) and are 15-3-2 in their last 20 games. Head Coach Barry Trotz cited that as one of his main takeaways as the second half of the season ratchets up.
"Real good effort. We'll collect points, at this time of year, you're getting better efforts from teams, you're getting desperation from teams trying to get their games in order," Trotz said. "That was a big point for us. You never know how many you're going to need."

GREISS VS VASILEVSKIY:

Friday's game came down to the goalies, and both Greiss and Vasilevskiy were outstanding at both ends of the ice.
Tied 0-0 in the third period, Greiss robbed Brayden Point, the Lightning's leading goal scorer, at the end of a tic-tac-toe play with Nikita Kucherov and Tyler Johnson. Greiss was the Isles best penalty killer, denying Steven Stamkos on a pair of one-timers in the first period on Tampa's lone power play.
At the other end, Vasilevskiy was sharp, denying Michael Dal Colle on a rebound in the first period, as well as robbing Valtteri Filppula on a two-on-one rush in the second period. Brock Nelson had the Isles best chance during the Islanders 4-on-3 power play in overtime, but Vasilevskiy got a blocker on his one-timer.
Eventually it came down to a shootout, with Hedman beating Greiss with a wrister for the lone goal. Nelson, Mathew Barzal and Josh Bailey came up empty for the Islanders, while Greiss stopped Kucherov on the Lightning's only other chance.

NEXT GAME:

The Islanders take on the LA Kings on Saturday night in the second half of a back-to-back set. Puck drop is at 7 p.m.