Islanders Fall Short in Tough Home Loss to Kings

Despite strong play, Islanders unable to overcome early deficit in 3-2 defeat

Mar. 14, 2026 at 2:04am

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The New York Islanders put forth a strong effort but ultimately fell short in a 3-2 home loss to the Los Angeles Kings. The Islanders had plenty of possession and chances, but struggled to get shots through to Kings goalie Darcy Kuemper early on. The Kings built a 3-1 lead, but the Islanders mounted a furious comeback attempt in the third period, with Emil Heineman scoring twice, but they were unable to find the equalizer before time ran out.

Why it matters

The loss is a tough blow for the Islanders, who were hoping to move up in the Metropolitan Division standings. With the Blue Jackets gaining ground, the Islanders now find themselves in a precarious position in the playoff race, raising concerns about their postseason aspirations despite a strong overall season.

The details

The Kings jumped out to a 3-0 lead, with goals from Trevor Moore, Anze Kopitar, and Adrian Kempe. The Islanders struggled to get shots through in the early going, with just 3 of 22 attempts hitting the net in the first period. However, the Islanders started to find their offensive rhythm in the second period, with Heineman scoring twice to cut the deficit to 3-2. The Islanders dominated possession and chances in the third period, but were unable to find the equalizer before time expired.

  • The Islanders entered the third period down 3-1.
  • Heineman scored to make it 3-2 just 3:38 into the third period.

The players

Emil Heineman

An Islanders forward who scored two goals in the loss, nearly completing a hat trick.

Darcy Kuemper

The Kings goaltender who made several key saves to preserve the win for Los Angeles.

Trevor Moore

A Kings forward who scored the opening goal on a breakaway after blocking an Islanders shot.

Anze Kopitar

A veteran Kings center who scored one of the team's three goals.

Adrian Kempe

A Kings forward who scored the team's third goal off the rush.

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What they’re saying

“We must have done a lot of good things out there, but it's just not good enough at this point in the season.”

— Islanders Player (New York Post)

What’s next

The Islanders will look to bounce back on Saturday when they host the Calgary Flames, while the Blue Jackets face the Flyers in a key Metropolitan Division matchup.

The takeaway

This loss is a setback for the Islanders in their push for a playoff spot, as they now find themselves in a precarious position with the Blue Jackets gaining ground. The team will need to show more urgency and precision in their play down the stretch to secure a postseason berth.