Islanders’ Lane Lambert blasts officials for ‘terrible’ call in uncharacteristic moment

DENVER Lane Lambert has been reticent to criticize officiating for most of his tenure as Islanders head coach.

That tendency evaporated Tuesday.

I thought Mike Reillys interference call was terrible, Lambert said following a 5-4 overtime loss to the Avalanche in which Colorado tied the game at 4-4 on a power play following the call on Reilly. What more can you say? They called them.

“Thats the way it goes.

Lambert can expect a call from Ninth Avenue on Wednesday, but evidently decided it was worth the trouble of a likely fine.

With six seconds to go on an Islanders power play, Reilly was called for interfering with Andrew Cogliano in the neutral zone at the 10:47 mark of the third period, with the Isles hanging on to a 4-3 lead.

The eventual power-play goal from Valeri Nichushkin featured an element of luck as well.

3Mike Reilly of the New York Islanders skates against Miles Wood of the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena. NHLI via Getty Images3Lane Lambert called out officials after Tuesday’s loss. NHLI via Getty ImagesCale Makar suffered a broken stick on an attempted shot from the point, but the puck went to Nathan MacKinnon at the post, setting up an easy tap-in for Nichushkin from the low slot.

Colorado proceeded to win the game in overtime after another penalty on the Islanders this one from Scott Mayfield for holding at the end of regulation set up a four-on-three in the extra period, which MacKinnon converted.

Robert Bortuzzo also left the game with an apparent right leg injury after taking a hit from Samuel Girard along the wall at 15:41 of the second.

3Robert Bortuzzo #41 of the New York Islanders is helped off the ice during the second period against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena on January 2, 2024 in Denver, Colorado. NHLI via Getty ImagesLambert did not have any update on his status.

Pierre Engvall drew back into the lineup after being a healthy scratch on Sunday in Pittsburgh, with Matt Martin coming out.

Sebastian Aho was a healthy scratch for the first time since early last season, with Bortuzzo rejoining the fold.