Panthers lose heartbreaker to the New York Islanders 2-1

A controversial call that would have tied up the game for the Florida Panthers wound up ensuring a loss, as they lost to the New York Islanders 2-1.

This is the first article I’m writing where I’m truly upset. It’s got nothing to do with how the Florida Panthers played. Rather, it has everything to do with a goal that clearly belonged to us but got taken away. I’ll get to it shortly.

The Panthers came into this game having just lost to the Washington Capitals two days ago at home in a game in which they fought hard and came up short. The New York Islanders came into this game having their 10 game win streak snapped by the Pittsburgh Penguins two days ago.

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Both teams had ice in their veins and a fire in their bellies to get back to their winning ways and grab two points. But as we all know, only one team can emerge victorious with two points at the end of the game. Today it just did not happen for the Panthers, unfortunately. I was expecting a low scoring game this afternoon and that’s exactly what happened.

The first period opened up with Mathew Barzal scoring the initial goal, assisted by Brock Nelson and Derick Brassard, at the 5:40 mark right after an Islanders power play opportunity had ended. It was a top-shelf goal and I hate to say it as a Panthers fan, but boy oh boy was it an impressive goal. No more goals were scored in the first period by either team.

The second period came and went and no goals were scored by either team. The third period opened up and this is where it started to get good and then eventually downfall. Florida went on the power play and Aleksander Barkov scored to make the game 1-1, which also brought up his amount donated to the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital to $6,400.

Then, 38 seconds later, the Islanders quickly regained the lead as Scott Mayfield, assisted by Devon Toews and Barzal made the score 2-1. Now, here’s where that bogus goal reversal comes in. Before I discuss that though, let me bring you on a trip down Memory Lane.

On April 24th, 2016, the Florida Panthers and the New York Islanders were facing each other in the playoffs in the first round. Vincent Trocheck was tripped by Matt Martin as he was attempting to shoot the puck and the refs never called it.

Well, today that came full circle. Trocheck was tripped today during the game and the refs called it. So the Panthers were going back on the power play. Eight seconds into it, Barkov seemed to have scored again. For the time being, the scoreboard read 2-2. The refs, however, decided to put the goal under further review, as they believed that there was a high stick contact with the puck.

They made the call on the ice, reviewed it again, and confirmed it again that there was high stick contact and that’s how the game ended. I personally didn’t see any high sticking but I guess in the end, the only ruling that matters is that of the referees.

So the final score of this afternoon’s matinee matchup was the New York Islanders with the victory 2-1. Next up is Sunday against the New York Rangers. Let’s go Cats!