Islanders 1*, Kraken 0 (*SO): Shutouts for everybody

If a game takes place on Long Island with no goal and almost no penalties, does it make a sound?

The Islanders and Kraken faced off to a stalemate that went all the way to extra-extra time in the shootout before the Isles prevailed for the extra point. It goes down as a 1-0 win for the Isles, though Joey Daccord and David Rittich allowed no actual goals and each are credited with shutouts.

The building finally got to celebrate in the last two shootout attempts — the “yyyEEAH” very audible, a pent-up release and relief — as Bo Horvat had to finish to convert to tie the breakaway contest, then Kyle Palmieri sniped the decisive winner.

The Isles nearly doubled the Kraken in shots and probably would’ve felt most robbed if they were the team that left this one with zero points, but overall it was a tightly played contest. Bo Horvat hit a crossbar and the Isles had a few other close chances and scrambles on Daccord, while Rittich was strong when needed, helped at least once by his post on a wide-angle shot.

[NHL Gamecenter | Game Summary | Event Summary | Natural Stat Trick]

Not sure anyone who saw the Isles under Lane Lambert and then under Patrick Roy last year would ever imagine these two coaches’ teams playing to a scoreless draw, but there you have it.

For Rittich in particular, it continues a strong run of providing absolutely critical backup goaltending for Ilya Sorokin. Both have been very good lately, prompting no need to overuse Sorokin.

• After a quieter game yesterday by his quickly established and lofty standards, Matthew Schaefer was an active beast throughout, logging over 27 minutes (that’ll go in the Skinny) with four shots on goal and five more attempts.

• There were two penalties called — okay three when counting the rare but late OT call — but nothing happening. Max Shabanov drove the net to draw a slash late in OT, but that only gave the Isles under 20 seconds of 4-on-3 to try to win before the shootout.

• Horvat’s afternoon was good if scoreless, too, and his shootout conversion was an authoritative, top-shelf laser when they absolutely needed it to stay alive.

• Speaking of which, Frederick Gaudreau was the only Kraken to “beat” Rittich all afternoon, although it was in a circus drill that has no real-life hockey analogy. The “shootout specialist” approached so slowly I was able to catch a cat nap and startle myself awake before he’d shot. It was a bit of appropriate karma that Horvat’s insta-strike followed a slow approach.

The busy Olympic-year schedule does not let up. This seven-game homestand continues with the Bruins on Wednesday, then a Friday post-Thanksgiving afternoon with the Flyers, then 1 p.m. on Sunday with the Capitals.

All three of those teams currently trail the Islanders in the standings, though not by much…