Off Script

Five-game winning streak ends in Anaheim

Good Morning, Islanders Country.

The Islanders have made a habit this season of flipping the script. Fall behind early, rally late, win the game anyway. It’s been their signature move.

Last night in Anaheim, though, they tried something different — and it didn’t work.

For once, the Islanders did everything you’d expect from a team in control. They scored first. They carried play early. They peppered Ville Husso, a goalie who hadn’t played in more than a month, with 43 shots — their most in a road game since Jan. 25, 2024, in Montreal when they fired 46 on net.

On most nights, that’s the recipe for a win.

Instead, it turned into a loss.

The Islanders had the upper hand for the first ten minutes, but something felt slightly off. Playing without Ryan Pulock, the defensive structure looked a bit hesitant, a step unsure in their own end. The Ducks — quietly one of the hottest teams in hockey with 13 wins in their last 16 games — sensed it.

And they made the Islanders pay.