The Upshot: Untimely penalties sink the NY Islanders against the Edmonton Oilers

HOW IT HAPPENED

It was a new night but the same old story for the NY Islanders. It's beginning to sound like a broken record, but another third period collapse doomed the Islanders for their fifth straight loss. The Isles started as well as they possibly could have hoped, taking the lead 40 seconds in off a Mat Barzal one-timer. That was all the scoring the Isles did the remainder of the night, as the next four went the way of the Edmonton Oilers. Leon Draisaitl nodded the game at one in the first, then two more untimely penalties were the Isles' downfall, as the Oilers scored twice on the man-advantage on their way to a 4-1 victory.

WHAT WENT RIGHT

The Isles got off on the right foot following Barzal's early goal, keeping their foot on the pedal through most of the first period, outshooting the Oilers 11-7. They again looked like the better team for most of the night but couldn't find timely goals. Ilya Sorokin played a strong game, making 28 saves on 31 shots. He was unlucky on Connor McDavid's power play goal, as the puck seemed to bounce around his pads and trickled across the goal line, which extended the Oilers' lead to two goals

WHAT WENT WRONG

Penalties in the third period killed the Isles again, the first being a tripping call on Simon Holmstrom in the offensive zone. Just seconds into the power play, Zach Hyman buried a goal from just outside the crease on a feed from McDavid from behind the goal line. Less than two minutes later, Ryan Pulock sent a puck skying over the glass from his own end, resulting in a delay of game call. McDavid scored on the ensuing power play, as the most prominent power play in history from last season took advantage of the Isles' mishaps, which ultimately were the difference.

“We dig ourselves a hole," Lane Lambert said. "We’re doing that a lot. We have to find a way to not do that anymore.”

STATS OF THE GAME

• The Islanders have been outscord 20-9 in third periods this season

• With two power play goals by the Oilers, the Isles penalty kill stands at 73.9% for the season

• Mat Barzal's first period tally was his third of the season through 14 games. It took 25 games to reach that mark last season

• The Isles have scored just two goals in the last 137:10 of game time

SOCIAL MEDIA MOMENT OF THE GAME

Former Islander Pierre Turgeon was elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame Last Night. Here he is receiving his plaque from Al MacInnis at the ceremony in Toronto.

WHAT"S NEXT

The Isles continue their tour of Western Canada on Wednesday when they take on the red-hot Vancouver Canucks in Bo Horvat's first game back in the Pacific Northwest. Puck drop is scheduled for 10:00 PM EST.