Biggest problem reared its ugly head again: not generating enough offense, refusal to funnel pucks to the net when traffic is there; when chances are there, not burying them with regularity; goaltendi

Palmieri gave the Islanders a 1-0 lead at 18:51 of the first period. Nelson picked off a Pierre-Olivier Joseph pass at the red line, skated into the offensive zone on a 3-on-2 rush and fed Palmieri, who beat Binnington with a wrist shot between the circles.

The Blues and Islanders combined for one goal at even-strength Saturday as the Blues lost 3-1, their seventh loss in the last nine games.