NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Islanders extended their point streak to five games.
But they couldn’t beat the Predators, losing a 3-2 shootout at Bridgestone Arena on Saturday afternoon despite goalie Ilya Sorokin’s best efforts, as they resumed their 13-game road trip.
Sorokin made 21 saves, including three in overtime and three incredible ones against Filip Forsberg in regulation. But Forsberg connected with a forehander on the Predators’ second shot of the shootout and defenseman Roman Josi then clinched it as Juuse Saros (33 saves) stopped Oliver Wahlstrom and Anthony Beauvillier.
In overtime, Sorokin stopped Mikael Granlund on a backhander at the crease at 1:50, Matt Duchene at the crease at 3:36 and Eeli Tolvanen from in tight at 4:33.
The Islanders (3-2-2) are now on a 3-0-2 streak while the Predators (4-4-0) have won three straight.
The Islanders took a 1-0 lead on Beauvillier’s power-play goal from the right circle at 14:46 of the first period to complete a tape-to-tape passing sequence from Mathew Barzal to Josh Bailey.
Wahlstrom’s power-play goal at 12:04 of the second period, a rising wrist shot from the left circle that blistered past Saros, made it 2-1. It marked the first time this young season the Islanders had scored multiple power-play goals in a game.
The Islanders held a 15-4 shot advantage in the second period.
Sorokin, coming off back-to-back shutouts and being named the NHL’s third star of the week, robbed Forsberg twice in the first period. First, Sorokin slid to his right to stop Forsberg’s power-play one-timer from the left circle at 5:49, then he got his glove on Forsberg’s shot from just above the crease at 13:54.
Finally, Sorokin denied Forsberg on a two-on-nothing rush at 7:05 of the third period.
But Tanner Jeannot’s shot through a screen deflected past Sorokin to tie the game at 1-1 at 6:54 of the second period, ending the goalie’s shutout streak at 146:54.
The Predators tied it at 2 at 11:48 of the third period as defenseman Matt Benning shot the puck toward the crease from the corner that deflected in off Jeannot’s shin.
