Sabres 4, Islanders 3 (EN): Another game, another collapse

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - MARCH 31: Sam Carrick #10 of the Buffalo Sabres punches Anders Lee #27 of the New York Islanders during the third period at KeyBank Center on March 31, 2026 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Rebecca Villagracia/Getty Images) | Getty Images After yesterday’s 8-3 loss, the Islanders really needed this game to go well. And it almost did, as they came back twice, with Cal Ritchie and Anders Lee finding the back of the net for game tying goals.

But then the Sabres reclaimed the lead late, taking advantage of bad defensive play by the Islanders, and I think we all knew they weren’t going to come back again. Brayden Schenn did pick up a true garbage time goal with almost no time left at all, but by then the Sabres had locked down the 4-3 win and two points that the Islanders really could have used. For now, the Islanders sit in third in the Metropolitan Division, now three points behind the Pittsburgh Penguins.

[ NHL Gamecenter | Game Summary | Event Summary | Natural Stat Trick ] First Period There was no Simon Holmström for the Islanders tonight as he was out with an upper body injury. Anthony Duclair got back into the lineup in his place. Ilya Sorokin also, unsurprisingly, started tonight, playing both games of the back to back for the second time, I believe, this season.

Carson Soucy took an early high sticking penalty against Zach Benson, but the Sabres’ power play would be canceled out when Josh Norris was called for interfering with Matthew Schaefer. Neither team could convert on the 4 on 4, and the Islanders couldn’t make anything work on the power play. Adam Pelech was hit awkwardly against the boards and was holding his arm while he skated over to the bench in pain, but he ended up okay, fortunately, and played the rest of the game.