National Hockey League
Florida 3, NY Islanders 2
When: 5:00 PM ET, Sunday, October 23, 2022
Where: FLA Live Arena, Sunrise, Florida
Referees: Garrett Rank, Chris Schlenker
Linesmen: Andrew Smith, James Tobias
Attendance: 16342

Backup goalie Spencer Knight made 23 saves for his second win in as many tries this season, leading the host Florida Panthers to a 3-2 win over the New York Islanders on Sunday night at Sunrise, Fla.

The Panthers, who also beat the Islanders on opening night, got goals from Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen and Ryan Lomberg.

Anders Lee scored two power-play goals for the Islanders, and both of them came on rebounds. Mathew Barzal picked up two assists for the Islanders, who also got 29 saves from backup goalie Semyon Varlamov.

Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk had his five-game points streak snapped. He started the streak in his Panthers debut against the Islanders.

Florida opened the scoring with just 39 seconds gone in the first period. Lundell made a great individual effort, stealing the puck from Adam Pelech against the boards behind the net. Lundell then scored on a wide-angle shot, banging the puck in off Varlamov's stick.

The Panthers made it 2-0 with 9:13 expired in the first on another tough play for the Islanders. Luostarinen shot the puck, which struck Noah Dobson in the neck. Play continued, and Luostarinen picked up the loose puck and shot it past Varlamov, just inside the left post. The puck bounced in off the stick of Islanders defenseman Sebastian Aho.

Dobson was able to return for the Islanders later in the period.

In the second period, Panthers defenseman Matt Kiersted was assessed a double-minor when his stick caught Matt Martin, causing a bloody face.

The Islanders cashed in with Lee's power-play goal with 4:27 gone in the second. Knight blocked the original shot by Barzal but the rebound went high and behind Knight, and Lee was able to shove the puck into the net.

Florida extended its lead to 3-1 on Lomberg's goal with 17:04 left in the third. The play was started with a shot by Kiersted that was blocked into the left corner. Colin White retrieved the puck and tossed it into the left circle, where Lomberg fired and scored, beating Varmalov to his blocker side.

Lee's second rebound goal -- this one with 10:53 left -- cut New York's deficit to 3-2. However, the Islanders couldn't get the equalizer.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
NY Islanders   Florida
Anders Lee 2 Points Eetu Luostarinen 2
Anders Lee 2 Goals Eetu Luostarinen 1
Mathew Barzal 2 Assists Eetu Luostarinen 1
Anders Lee 2 Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Semyon Varlamov .906 Save Percentage Spencer Knight .923
Semyon Varlamov 29 Saves Spencer Knight 24
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
NY Islanders 26 2 2-6 4-4 8 25
Florida 32 3 0-4 4-6 12 26
Upcoming Games
  • Florida will play their next game on the road against Chicago. The Panthers have a W/L % of .333 after a win and 1.000 after a loss.
  • NY Islanders will play their next game at home against NY Rangers. The Islanders have a W/L % of .333 after a win and .333 after a loss.