ANAHEIM — John Gibson sat out the Ducks’ 4-0 loss Sunday to the New York Islanders at Honda Center with an illness that the team said was unrelated to COVID-19. Backup Anthony Stolarz replaced him in goal and made 18 saves as the Ducks lost their second consecutive game.
As in their 4-1 loss Friday to the Kings, the Ducks chased the game from the first period and never caught up. The Islanders, like the Kings, played a solid if unspectacular game and were aided by the Ducks’ numerous lapses with and, especially, without the puck.
A poor line change in the opening minutes of the second period was the Ducks’ most egregious mistake and led to a goal by New York’s Casey Cizikas during a delayed penalty for too many men on the ice at 1:33. The Ducks have been outscored 13-6 in their past seven second periods.
Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson gave New York a 1-0 lead with a perimeter shot that sailed through traffic and past Stolarz at 13:41 of the first period. The Ducks outshot the Islanders by 12-7 in the first period and by 21-14 through two periods, but they couldn’t score.
Andy Greene sealed it for New York with a goal at 11:43 of the final period. Kieffer Bellows then made it 4-0, sending Ducks fans streaming for the exits with a little more than five minutes to play. Ilya Sorokin made 34 saves for his fifth shutout of the season in his first career game against the Ducks.