Islanders fall to Ducks as playoff chances take another hit

ANAHEIM, Calif. — A defenseman was pressed into service as a center and goalie Marcus Hogberg, activated off injured reserve earlier in the day, made his first start in six weeks.

But that’s not why the Islanders lost to the Ducks, 4-1, on Sunday night at Honda Center, a damaging defeat for their long-shot playoff hopes in the middle match of their three-game California swing and their second game after trading away Brock Nelson. Simply put, the Islanders looked tired and flat-footed on the second night of a back-to-back.

The loss pushed the Islanders (29-27-7), who had a two-game winning streak snapped, four points behind the Senators for the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot. The trip ends Tuesday night against the Kings, who are 20-3-4 at home.

Lukas Dostal made 31 saves for the Ducks (28-28-7), his shutout bid spoiled by defenseman Tony DeAngelo at 15:10 of the third period.

Hogberg (23 saves) made his first start since exiting a 3-2 overtime win over the visiting Hurricanes on Jan. 25 with a hand injury. Ilya Sorokin had started 32 of the previous 38 games and made 38 saves in Saturday night’s 4-2 win over the NHL-worst Sharks.

Meanwhile, coach Patrick Roy used defenseman Adam Boqvist to center a makeshift fourth line with Kyle MacLean unavailable because of an illness. Roy said it was the first time Boqvist had been used as a center in the NHL and, when asked if Boqvist had volunteered, Roy copped to making the request.

MacLean’s absence played a role in the Ducks’ second goal. Roy had Pierre Engvall taking the faceoffs for Boqvist but Leo Carlsson beat him on a defensive-zone draw after the Islanders iced the puck, leading to defenseman Drew Helleson beating Hogberg to the short side from the right point at 14:56 of the second period. It was a goal the goalie would want back.

The same was perhaps true on Mason McTavish’s power-play goal just 43 seconds into the third period to make it 3-0, which beat Hogberg over his blocker.

Hogberg was tested early and somewhat often as the Islanders were again sluggish in a first period, just as they were when the Sharks took 17 of the first 18 shots. The Islanders yielded too many odd-man rushes and allowed the Ducks too many good looks over the first 20 minutes.

But Hogberg turned aside defenseman Olen Zellweger on an odd-man rush for his first save at 1:19, stopped Frank Vatrano’s one-timer off another odd-man rush at 8:27, gloved Troy Terry’s good look from the right at 11:11 and made himself big against the post for Trevor Zegras’ “Michigan” attempt at 11:45.

He also denied Jansen Harkins’ penalty shot attempt at 3:17 of the third period after defenseman Noah Dobson impeded Harkins’ potential shorthanded breakaway.

But Sam Colangelo finally made it 1-0 against the leaky Islanders’ defense at 17:52 of the first period, getting to the crease and putting the puck under a sprawled Hogberg. Colangelo later added an empty-netter after Roy pulled Hogberg with more than 12 minutes left in regulation.

Notes & quotes: Kyle Palmieri did not play the final 7:38 of the second period but was back in the rotation in the third period . . . Goalie Jakub Skarek was reassigned to the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport after appearing in two games, including his first NHL start . . . Defenseman Scott Mayfield drew back into the lineup after he was a healthy scratch against the Sharks for the fourth time in the last six games.