Kings 5, Islanders 3: Islanders Struggle in SoCal Swing

Islanders drop two straight games in California after strong comeback wins out of the Olympic break

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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The New York Islanders followed up a 5-1 loss in Anaheim with a 5-3 defeat against the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday. The Islanders struggled with defensive lapses and an ineffective power play, falling behind 4-1 before a late rally came up short.

Why it matters

The Islanders' struggles on their California road trip raise concerns about their ability to maintain the momentum from their recent comeback wins and compete with top teams in the Western Conference. The team' s defensive issues and special teams struggles will need to be addressed as they approach the trade deadline and look to solidify their playoff positioning.

The details

The Islanders fell behind early when Ilya Sorokin lost his stick and the team failed to retrieve it, leading to an Artemi Panarin goal. The Kings then took advantage of Islanders defensive breakdowns to build a 4-1 lead, including two power-play goals. The Islanders' power play was abysmal, failing to capitalize on the Kings' own too-many-men penalties. A late goal by Bo Horvat and a shorthanded tally by Adam Pelech provided brief hope, but the Islanders couldn't complete the comeback.

  • The Islanders lost 5-1 to the Anaheim Ducks on March 4, 2026.
  • The Islanders lost 5-3 to the Los Angeles Kings on March 6, 2026.

The players

Ilya Sorokin

The Islanders' starting goaltender who lost his stick early in the game, leading to the first Kings goal.

Anze Kopitar

The Kings' veteran center who was involved in the play that led to Sorokin losing his stick.

Artemi Panarin

The Kings' forward who scored the first goal of the game after Sorokin lost his stick.

J-G Pageau

The Islanders' center who won a key faceoff that led to a late goal in the second period.

Bo Horvat

The Islanders' forward who scored a late goal in the second period to cut the deficit to 3-1.

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What they’re saying

“One by the D, one by the forwards”

— DJ Smith, Interim Head Coach (NHL Gamecenter)

What’s next

The Islanders will look to bounce back on Saturday when they visit the San Jose Sharks to complete their California road trip.

The takeaway

The Islanders' struggles on their California swing highlight the team's defensive and special teams issues that will need to be addressed as they approach the trade deadline and look to solidify their playoff positioning in the competitive Eastern Conference.