Islanders Win Streak Ends After Third Period Meltdown
The New York Islanders win streak ends at 10 after they blew a three-goal lead in the third period before falling in overtime 4-3.
Well, it had to come to an end eventually. After a 10 game run, the New York Islanders fell to the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3 in overtime. This game couldn’t have started any better for the Isles though.
19 seconds into the first period, Casey Cizikas found the back of the net on the opening shift. That was the perfect start for the Islanders.
The Islanders were outshot 11-8 in the period, and Pittsburgh had their fair share of scoring chances but the Isles held a 1-0 lead after one period of play.
The second period started rather slow for the Islanders but when their team came out on the penalty kill they scored their second short-handed goal in as many games, thanks to Cal Clutterbuck.
The fourth line was phenomenal tonight. For the second game in a row, they provided a ton of offense and they looked like the Islanders best line by a mile.
Just under three minutes later Adam Pelech netted his first of the season to give the Islanders a 3-0 lead. That lead would hold through the remainder of the period, and Pelech finished the first two periods with over 17 minutes of ice time. He was an iron man tonight.
Then, in the third period, everything went downhill. First, Jared McCann scored his fifth of the season to get the Penguins on the board. Okay, one goal, not a big deal. Well, a two-goal swing would kill the Islanders.
After a miraculous save from Matt Murray, saving a what looked like sure Anthony Beauvillier goal, Bryan Rust went down the ice and made it a one-goal game. That took the life out of the Islanders.
Evgeni Malkin scored at the 8:48 mark and for the second game in a row, the Penguins came back from three goals down.
In overtime, the Isles dominated possession of the puck for the first two-plus minutes of overtime. A Brock Nelson turnover would be the difference as Bryan Rust netted his second of the game, ending the Isles streak at 10 games.
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Winners: Bryan Rust, Jared McCann, Adam Pelech
Losers: Brock Nelson, Cole Bardreau, Matt Murray