NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The problem with constantly trying to mount rallies is that there’s little to no margin for error.
The Islanders were unable to rally from a three-goal deficit, even as they turned their awful start into a tense third period.
The Predators held on for a 5-4 win on Thursday night at Bridgestone Arena, snapping the Islanders’ two-game winning streak in the second game of this four-game road stretch.
The Islanders (11-7-0), who next face the Stars on Saturday night, have still won nine of their last 12.
But Juuso Parssinen’s power-play goal at 9:52 of the third period to make it 5-3, his second goal of the game, dented the Islanders’ comeback attempt. Defenseman Scott Mayfield had been whistled for tripping Colton Sissons just six seconds earlier.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau again pulled the Islanders within one with a power-play goal at 15:39 off Anders Lee’s between-the-legs feed.
Ilya Sorokin made 26 saves for the Islanders while Juuse Saros stopped 29 shots for the Predators (8-8-1), who have won three straight.
The Islanders had rallied from 3-1 deficits — after the second period — in back to back wins over the Flames (overtime) and Rangers on Nov. 7-8.
Kyle Palmieri pulled the Islanders within 4-3 as he got to the low slot off an assist from Pageau at 4:32 of the third period. Saros then denied Lee as he broke free to the crease at 6:04, drawing a hooking penalty from defenseman Roman Josi (four assists).
The Predators are on a 10-1-1 streak overall against the Islanders, who have not won at Bridgestone Arena since Oct. 28, 2017.
The first period was a truly ugly one for the Islanders, and not just because they trailed 3-1 after 20 minutes as they were outshot 18-7, outchanced 26-11 and, per Natural Stat Trick, had no high-danger chances to the Predators’ six.
The Islanders’ play in the defensive zone was as leaky as it has been all season, allowing numerous seam passes to find their way to the crease. Coach Lane Lambert had switched all three of his defensive pairs by the end of the period, placing Adam Pelech with Noah Dobson, Sebastian Aho with Ryan Pulock and Alexander Romanov with Mayfield.
Left wing Ross Johnston’s last shift came at 9:23 of the second period.
The Predators opened the scoring at 1:03 of the first period as Filip Forsberg was left open to the left of the crease, seconds after Sorokin stretched out his right pad to deny Forsberg’s wraparound attempt.
It marked the 12th time the Islanders have allowed the first goal and they are 5-7-0 in those contests.
Pelech’s shot from the left circle went in off the stick of Predators defenseman Dante Fabbro to tie it at 1 at 2:43. But Sissons got to the crease to tip Cole Smith’s feed as the Predators took a 2-1 lead at 8:43. Ex-Islander Nino Niederreiter then notched his team-high eighth goal as his shot from the top of the right circle deflected in off Dobson’s skate for a 3-1 lead at 9:41.
Nothing improved for the Islanders to start the second period and Lambert eventually reverted to his initial defense pairings. Sorokin was forced to make a tough save just 32 seconds in as Matt Duchene got to the crease. Parssinen did make it 4-1 at 5:01, converting the long rebound to the slot of Forsberg’s initial shot.
The Islanders then started applying some sustained offensive pressure for the first time. Brock Nelson hit the crossbar twice and Cal Clutterbuck deflected Pelech’s shot through traffic to make it 4-2 at 15:41 of the second period.
