Eyes On Isles
Fansided

New York Islanders: Four Games That Sunk The Season

By Jacob Seus

Mar 22, 2017; New York, NY, USA; New York Islanders left wing Andrew Ladd (16) leads his team after scoring a goal during the third period against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 22, 2017; New York, NY, USA; New York Islanders left wing Andrew Ladd (16) leads his team after scoring a goal during the third period against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 3, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; New York Islanders left wing Anders Lee (27) tries to tip a shot against Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Michal Rozsival (32) in front of goalie Corey Crawford (50) during the second period at the United Center. Chicago won 2-1 in s shoot out. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 3, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; New York Islanders left wing Anders Lee (27) tries to tip a shot against Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Michal Rozsival (32) in front of goalie Corey Crawford (50) during the second period at the United Center. Chicago won 2-1 in s shoot out. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /

March 3rd New York Islanders at Chicago Blackhawks

The Isles took their only trip to the United Center at the end of their historic nine game road trip. They were coming off a huge win the night before in Dallas, and it was second career game for rookie Josh Ho-Sang.

The Blackhawks came into his game having won ten of their previous 11 games. Certainly not an easy task, but the Islanders were riding as much momentum as a team could. They were back into a playoff spot and peaking at the right time.

It was a crazy back and fourth affair between Thomas Greiss and Corey Crawford. Both goalies stood on their heads but the Isles finally broke through in the second period. Brock Nelson led a shorthanded odd man rush and snapped a wrister passed Crawford to put the Islanders on the board. The Isles took that 1-0 lead into the second intermission.

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The Isles held on for dear life in the third. Greiss stood tall and was doing everything he could to make sure they left Chicago with two points. The Hawks had numerous power plays and couldn’t capitalize.

With less than two minutes to go the Hawks pulled Crawford. With the shutout near complete and 1:14 on the clock, Artemi Panarin beat Greiss with a wicked wrist shot. It looked like the Isles would steal two points but they still could finish the job in overtime.

This was probably the Islanders most entertaining three on three overtime of the season. It was nothing but pure back and fourth.

Crawford was amazing, stopping Bailey on a breakaway and Tavares on a two on one. The two teams would head to the skills competition where it was obvious the Hawks simply had better goal scorers. The Blackhawks took his game 2-1 in the shootout.

With not much time left on the clock and a one goal lead the Islanders should have won his game. That second point would have been huge for the team moral and very well could have been that one point that pushed them into the playoffs come April.

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