Islanders Sunk By Panthers

     The Florida Panthers continued their three-game stay in the New York tri-state area with a 3-2 overtime victory over the New York Islanders on Wednesday night at Barclays Center. The Panthers stopped a two-game losing streak. It was the Islanders first home game in 16 days.
     In the first period, New York(3-4-1) picked up an unusual goal with 1:24 left in the frame. Vincent Trocheck turned the puck over on a bad pass through the crease and Josh Bailey intercepted it in the low slot. The puck was poked away by James Reimer and Brock Nelson put a shot from the crease off Trocheck in the blue paint. Mike Matheson intended to clear the puck out, however it bounced off Trocheck's left skate and went into the Panthers net.
     The Islanders extended their lead to 2-0 at the 11:42 mark of the second period. Jordan Eberle scored a power-play goal on assists from Mathew Barzal and Anders Lee.
     Florida(2-3-3) got their first goal at 2:46 of the third period on the power play. Matheson placed a pass from the top of the zone to Aaron Ekblad for a one-time slap shot from the top left circle. Nick Bjugstad knocked down the puck, swept it to Frank Vatrano and he lifted a shot from the low slot over Robin Lehner.
     The Panthers tied the contest 2-2 midway through the period at the 10:35 mark. Aleksander Barkov got his own rebound following a shot from the top left circle. He went to behind the Islanders cage, centered the puck to the high slot and Evgenii Dadonov fired a wrist shot for his fourth goal of the season.
     Florida had a power play at the start of overtime and won the contest 33 seconds in. Barkov won the faceoff in the left circle and Hoffman backhanded it to Keith Yandle at the blue line. He returned it back to Hoffman at the top right circle for a one-time slap shot.