The Islanders took a step backward in their quest to be a new, more dangerous yet responsible team under Patrick Roy, with a sleepy 5-2 loss to the Flames in Elmont on Saturday afternoon.
It was not a blowout, but the Islanders never looked like they’d be mounting a threat as the Flames steadily built a 3-0 lead by the second intermission. It’s a sharp contrast to the two wins earlier this week, and a jarring shift from their 6-2 dismissal of the Lightning on Thursday.
Brock Nelson’s goal with 4:00 left in regulation made the ending interesting, and the Isles added one more — after the Flames got their first empty net goal to restore a three-goal lead — when Jacob Markstrom tried and failed miserably to go for a goalie goal.