BUFFALO, N.Y. — Kyle Palmieri could feel good about his game with his first multi-goal effort as an Islander after a stint as a healthy scratch. But that was the only solace in another loss in a sinking season that likely is too late to salvage.
The Sabres, who had beaten the Islanders just twice in the teams’ last 12 contests, won 6-3 on Tuesday night at KeyBank Center, adding two empty-netters after Victor Olofsson’s winner at 17:05 of the third period.
It dropped the Islanders (17-20-6) to 18 points out of a playoff spot as they lost the last three games of this four-game road trip.
The trade deadline is March 21 and, with eight scouts in attendance, the Islanders may need to change their priorities.
Ilya Sorokin stopped 35 shots for the Islanders, who now have the same 40 points as the Sabres (16-24-8).
Coach Barry Trotz altered his lineup by re-inserting Palmieri after the Smithtown product was a healthy scratch the past two games and also missed the trip-opening 6-3 win in Vancouver as his wife gave birth to their first child. Trotz also sat defenseman Andy Greene in favor of Sebastian Aho, who got the secondary assist on Palmieri’s first goal, which was his first in 17 games.
Palmieri’s second goal, a sharp-angle shot from the right that he banked off goalie Dustin Tokarski (30 saves), tied it at 3 at 9:56 of the third period.
"I just talked to him, ‘Let’s forget about the first half of the season, let’s focus on the last half of this regular season and see if we can get a little more traction, a little more production,’" Trotz said before the game. "He’s playing with a little bit of a burden. He wants to do well. He signed up with us after being a free agent. He wants to prove that he’s worthy of that. He’s had a real struggle. I said, ‘Let’s get rid of that burden. You’re a good hockey player.’"
Palmieri agreed to a four-year, $20 million extension after being acquired from the Devils at last season’s trade deadline.
Special teams hurt the Islanders in the second period as Alex Tuch’s power-play goal with 0.6 seconds left on a deflection of Peyton Krebs’ shot gave the Sabres a 3-2 lead. It was the third time in 10 games the Islanders have allowed a goal in the last six seconds of a period.
The Sabres had taken a 2-1 lead on Tage Thompson’s shorthanded goal at 1:36. Brock Nelson lost the puck up ice and defenseman Noah Dobson lost it in the defensive zone, then didn’t box out Thompson for the rebound try.
Anders Lee tied the game at 2 at 7:11 of the second period, getting his stick on the puck at the crease after defenseman Zdeno Chara’s blast.
But the second Islanders’ power play of the second period couldn’t produce a goal with Zach Parise hitting the goal post and Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin blocking Anthony Beauvillier’s look at an open net from the left circle at 10:50.
Palmieri tied the game at 1 at 12:06 of the first period, getting to the crease to deposit Anthony Beauvillier’s feed from the left. It also ended Palmieri’s 15-game point drought.
The goal came just 73 seconds after ex-Islander Kyle Okposo, scoring his second goal in two games this season against his former team, gave the Sabres a 1-0 lead as he beat Sorokin to the short side from down low on the left.
It marked the ninth time in 10 games the Islanders have allowed the first goal.
