Golden Knights lose another goalie to injury, fall 6-3 to Islanders

By Jesse Granger

Published Monday, Oct. 30, 2017 | 6:39 p.m.

Updated Monday, Oct. 30, 2017 | 8 p.m.

When Golden Knights goaltender Oscar Dansk slipped and fell to the ice away from the play, it was a sight all too familiar to the franchise in only its 10th game in franchise history.

Dansk was helped off the ice, but only after allowing a game-tying goal seconds before, and Maxime Lagace (the fourth string goalie) took the ice.

Vegas survived injuries to goalies Marc-Andre Fleury and Malcolm Subban to amass an 8-1 record, but the injuries in net caught up with the Golden Knights Monday night in Brooklyn. The New York Islanders scored five straight goals to win 6-3.

The Golden Knights led twice early, 1-0 and 2-1, with goals from William Karlsson and Alex Tuch, but the Islanders' offensive pressure was too much in the second and third periods.

New York captain John Tavares scored a pair of goals, and Mathew Barzal, Cal Clutterbuck, and Nikolay Kulemin all beat Lagace to lead the Islanders to a commanding 6-2 lead.

Colin Miller, who assisted on Tuch’s goal in the first period, scored with 5:19 remaining to cut the deficit to 6-3.

Islanders take 3-2 lead heading into final period

Goalie Oscar Dansk was helped from the ice after allowing a power play goal by John Tavares, and fourth string netminder Maxime Lagace took his place.

Shortly after, Mathew Barzal scored on a wide open net for New York’s second power play goal of the game to give the Islanders a 3-2 lead.

Golden Knights lead 2-1 after one period

The Golden Knights scored on the power play and shorthanded to take a 2-1 lead into the first intermission in New York.

William Karlsson started the scoring when Cody Eakin found him streaking toward the goal on a penalty kill. Karlsson put the puck past Islanders goalie Jaroslav Halak, who was caught out of position on the play.

The Islanders tied the game with 6:10 left in the first period when Andrew Ladd beat Golden Knights goalie Oscar Dansk with a wrist shot from the left faceoff circle. But the tie wouldn’t last, as the Golden Knights cashed in on a power play less than two minutes later.

Colin Miller carried the puck around the offensive zone and fired a shot at the goal. Alex Tuch, who was standing in front of the goal screening Halak’s vision, had the puck bounce off his skate and into the goal.

Pre game

Today in Brooklyn, something will have to give.

The Golden Knights, undefeated on the road this season, are in New York to take on the Islanders, who have yet to lose in regulation at home.

It’s been more than three weeks since the Golden Knights have played on the road, and the roster has changed drastically since. Other than the obvious absence of goaltenders Marc-Andre Fleury and Malcolm Subban, Vegas has also made a slew of other roster moves, including suspending Vadim Shipachyov and waiving defenders Griffin Reinhart and Jason Garrison to the American Hockey League.

Alex Tuch was brought up from the Chicago Wolves and already has two goals and an assist in five games. Top defensive prospect Shea Theodore will be making his Golden Knights debut today after being called up from the AHL this morning.

Today, Vegas faces an Islanders team that has won four of its last five games and is on fire offensively. New York is seventh in the NHL with 38 goals on the season and has scored at least four goals in each of the last five games.

Star center John Tavares is third in the NHL in goals, with nine, behind only Nikita Kucherov (12) and Alex Ovechkin (10). Expect him to be shadowed for most of the game by Golden Knights' defenseman Luca Sbisa, who has done a great job limiting other star players such as Brad Marchand, Vladamir Tarasenko and Patrick Kane.

The Golden Knights will try to counteract the Islanders' attack with statistically the strongest defense in the NHL. Vegas has allowed a league-low 19 goals this season and have allowed two or fewer goals in seven of its nine games.

Oscar Dansk will get the start at goalie for the Golden Knights, fresh off of the first shutout in franchise history. Opposite of him will be Jaroslav Halak, who has won three straight games for the Islanders.

Puck drops: 4 p.m.

Where: Barclays Center, Brooklyn

Radio: Fox Sports 1340 AM and 98.9 FM

TV: AT&T SportsNet (DirecTV 684, Cox 1313, CenturyLink Prism 1760, Dish Network 5414)

Betting line: Golden Knights plus-165, Total 5.5 minus-115 to the over

Golden Knights (8-1-0) (2-0-0)

Coach: Gerard Gallant

Goal leader: James Neal (7)

Assist leader: Luca Sbisa (6)

Expected goalie: Oscar Dansk (3-0-0, 1.34 goals against average)

New York Islanders (5-4-0) (3-0-1 home)

Coach: Doug Weight

Goal leader: John Tavares (9)

Assist leader: Justin Bailey (8)

Expected goalie: Jaroslav Halak (4-2-0, 2.61 goals against average)

Golden Knights game day roster

Forwards (12): Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, William Carrier, Cody Eakin, Erik Haula, William Karlsson, Oscar Lindberg, Jonathan Marchessault, James Neal, Tomas Nosek, David Perron, Reilly Smith and Alex Tuch.

Defensemen (6): Deryk Engelland, Brad Hunt, Brayden McNabb, Colin Miller, Luca Sbisa and Nate Schmidt.

Goalies (2): Oscar Dansk and Maxime Lagace

Prediction : Golden Knights 4, Islanders 2

Season record for predictions: 4-4