SUNRISE -- After shutting out the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-0 on Saturday, the New York Islanders failed to sweep the back-to-back, falling 4-1 to the Florida Panthers on Sunday evening.
The Islanders were 4-0-0 on the second leg of back-to-backs prior to this game.
Here's how it happened:
Goaltender David Rittich did a phenomenal job tracking pucks early, but a seeing-eye shot from Uvis Balinskis at 12:14 of the first gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead:
grinding. pic.twitter.com/tsycuPUusN
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) December 7, 2025
That snapped the Islanders' three-game streak of scoring first.
The Islanders' fourth line started to shift momentum, ever so slightly, garnering some chances.
Kyle MacLean got a glorious feed from Casey Cizikas but he rang the left post at 19:16 of the first.
The Panthers took a 2-0 lead at 7:05 of the second period after Maxim Shabanov committed his second turnover of the shift and third mistake. After making a great read in the offensive zone, he waited too long to shoot, leading to a blocked shot.
Then, as he tried to get a cycle going down low, he didn't get enough on the pass, turning the puck over. He made a strong effort to get back -- which he did --, but then he turned the puck over to Carter Verhaeghe, who ripped the rubber glove side:
Dad mode ENGAGED.
— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) December 7, 2025
That’s Verhaeghe’s FOURTH goal as a dad 🔥 pic.twitter.com/4zKS00rKkU
Head coach Patrick Roy swapped Shabanov with Simon Holmstrom for the remainder of the game.
Mathew Barzal got the Islanders on the board at 9:03 of the second. He received a quick feed from Matthew Schaefer stationed at the point, before his backhander went off of Florida defenseman Gustav Forsling's behind and in:
Mathew Barzal backhander gets #Isles on the board…and, oh yeah, another point for Mathew Schaefer: pic.twitter.com/GO64SsiXzU
— The Elmonters (@TheElmonters) December 7, 2025
The Islanders couldn't get the equalizer before the second period came to a close.
In the third period, the Islanders struggled to create much, with just three shots on goal.
During 4-on-4 play, Seth Jones scored off the rush at 13:57 of the third after Tony DeAngelo and Matthew Schaefer got crossed up:
holy highlight reel, mr. jones pic.twitter.com/4IY9lmrQKs
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) December 8, 2025
Sam Reinhart added an empty-net goal at 17:05 of the third for the 4-1 final.