Islanders Overwhelmed by Ducks, Five-Game Win Streak Snapped

Anaheim's young stars dominate as Islanders struggle without injured defenseman Ryan Pulock

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The New York Islanders' five-game winning streak came to an end with a 5-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday night. The Islanders were outmatched physically and struggled to generate quality scoring chances without the presence of injured defenseman Ryan Pulock. Anaheim's top lines, led by rookies Cutter Gauthier and Beckett Sennecke, controlled the game and built a 3-1 lead after the first period that the Islanders could not overcome.

Why it matters

The loss snaps the Islanders' impressive post-Olympic break run and raises questions about their ability to compete against the league's top teams without key players like Pulock in the lineup. The Ducks, meanwhile, continue to impress with their young talent and physical style of play.

The details

The Islanders outshot the Ducks but were unable to generate quality scoring chances, as Anaheim's forecheck and physicality disrupted the Islanders' breakouts. Gauthier scored two first-period goals, and Sennecke added another as the Ducks built a 3-1 lead. The Islanders' power play struggled, failing to capitalize on three opportunities in the second period. Anaheim put the game out of reach early in the third period with a goal from Ryan Poehling.

  • The Islanders' five-game winning streak was snapped on March 4, 2026.
  • Gauthier scored two first-period goals for the Ducks.
  • Sennecke extended the Ducks' lead to 3-1 in the first period.
  • Poehling scored early in the third period to make it 4-1 Ducks.
  • Vatrano scored an empty-net goal to make the final score 5-1.

The players

Ryan Pulock

An injured Islanders defenseman whose absence was felt in the loss.

Cutter Gauthier

A rookie forward for the Ducks who scored two first-period goals.

Beckett Sennecke

Another young Ducks star who extended Anaheim's lead to 3-1 in the first period.

Ryan Poehling

A Ducks forward who scored early in the third period to put the game out of reach.

Frank Vatrano

A Ducks forward who scored an empty-net goal to make the final score 5-1.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The Islanders will look to bounce back on Thursday night when they take on the Los Angeles Kings.

The takeaway

This loss highlights the Islanders' vulnerability without key players like Pulock in the lineup and the continued development of the Ducks' young core, who dominated the physical battle and controlled the game.