The New York Islanders were on the verge of heading home feeling good about themselves after a five-game road trip. But a failure to hold on to a third-period lead for a third straight game ended in a 2-1 regulation loss to the Detroit Red Wings.
The Islanders go 1-2-2 on their season-long five-game road trip, dropping their last three games (0-2-1).
Here’s how it happened:
After the third line established possession in the offensive zone, Simon Holmstrom got the puck back to Scott Mayfield at the right point.
The defenseman let a shot fly that found Holmstrom’s stick, beating Lyon’s blocker side at 5:51 of the first:
With the goal, the Islanders’ third line now has goals in four straight; Pierre Engvall had scored in each of the three games prior.
The Red Wings outshot the Islanders 11-9 in the first, but New York maintained the lead through 20 minutes. The Islanders also killed off a Red Wings power play opportunity in the frame.
The Red Wings outshot the Islanders 11-9 in the first, but New York maintained the lead through 20 minutes. The Islanders also killed off a Red Wings power play opportunity in the frame.
Both teams had chances in the second period. Detroit got a pair of power-play opportunities and outshot the Islanders 11-6 in the middle frame, but Ilya Sorokin held down the fort to keep the score 1-0.
The two teams traded opportunities for the better portion of the third, but a broken stick gave the Red Wings an opening to tie the game.
After Alexander Romanov lost his lumber on a shot, Detroit broke out on a two-on-one. J.T. Compher sprung Jonatan Berggren on the rush, who sniped the puck past Sorokin to tie it at 1-1 with 4:46 to play in regulation:
With 51.1 seconds to play in regulation, the Red Wings took the lead after Ryan Pulock and Isaiah George took the same guy in the corner, leaving Lucas Raymond wide open in the slot:
The Islanders failed to tie the game and lost their third straight game.
Up Next: The Islanders host the St. Louis Blues at 7:30 PM ET on Saturday night, the first of a three-game homestand.
