Lee cut the Islanders’ deficit to 2-1 at 9:47. After Kyle Palmieri’s point shot got slowed down on its way toward the goal, Lee settled the puck before sending a quick turnaround shot through Kuemper’s legs from the slot.
It looked like Phillip Danault was going to give the Kings a 3-1 lead at 8:29 of the third with Sorokin on his back at the top of his crease after making a save, but Islanders forward Maxim Tsyplakov blocked Danault’s shot at the blocker-side post from inside the crease.
Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson’s point shot beat a screened Kuemper but hit the post at the 12:35 mark of the third period.
Sorokin slid over to stop a Danault rush chance at 14:03 of the third.
Islanders forward Bo Horvat hit the post in the final five minutes on a semi-breakaway.
Anderson scored an empty-net goal with 14 seconds to play for the 3-1 final.
“It was a game that was right there,” Islanders captain Lee said. “We couldn’t get the extra one tonight. Kuemper made some good saves at the same time. Ilya [Sorokin] gave us a chance all night. But yeah, when we play that simple hockey game, that’s who we are.”
NOTES: Lee passed John Tavares to sit eighth all-time in franchise history with 273 goals. … Scott Mayfield, a defenseman, missed the game due to illness. … The Kings ran 11 forwards and seven defensemen. … Kopitar extended his point streak to four games (five points, one goal, four assists). … Kempe has goals in back-to-back games.