Islanders News: Bad third periods and blown leads

1 year ago  /  Lighthouse Hockey

The goal to give them a lead they didn’t keep again. | Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images


I think these are “trends” now. The third period has not been kind to the New York Islanders; perhaps more accurately, the Islanders haven’t been kind to third periods.
After 40 minutes of solid hockey against the Minnesota Wild, the Islanders let a tie game become a two-goal deficit in less than a minute, salting away any hope of points. Once again, they held a lead in this game and didn’t win, although it was only a one-goal lead in the second period. Still, this is concerning and, despite what Lane Lambert may say in the media, a trend—a worrying trend at that.


#Isles have had a lead in each of their eight home games this season but have just nine points (3-2-3) to show for it.Also now minus-8 in 3rd-period/OT goal differential after giving up two tonight to Minny in 4-2 loss.— Arthur Staple (@StapeAthletic) November 8, 2023



They had a chance to win going into the final frame and didn’t play well enough to earn that win.
Islanders News
About last night:

Consistently playing 60 minutes has been a problem. [LHH]
Specifically, the third periods have been a problem. [Newsday]
The third-period implosions, especially. [NY Post]
The worst part is conceding multiple goals in really short periods of time. [THN]
Oliver Wahlstrom scored a goal, though. [3 Takeaways]
Scott Mayfield was expected to be in. Adam Pelech and Bo Horvat, however, were game-time decisions: Pelech played, but Horvat did not. [Isles DTD]
That meant Mathew Barzal shifted back to center for the night, and he played well there. [Newsday]
Stan Fischler’s take on the night. [THN]
Noah Dobson also scored, and only Denis Potvin had more goals as an Islander on the back end before his 24th birthday than Dobson. [NYI Skinny]

Not about last night specifically:

Ironically, Ethan Sears wrote this story about Barzal getting more comfortable on the wing. [NY Post]
Varlamov earned another start last night, his first at home, but he has taken his backup role in stride. [Newsday]

Elsewhere
Last night’s NHL scores include the Sharks earning their first win of the season over the Flyers and the Flames winning their first game in a while against the Predators. Also, the Rangers beat the Red Wings, and the Hurricanes topped the Sabres in overtime.

Even though the Calgary Flames won, they were involved in controversy because they benched Jonathan Huberdeau for the entire third-period comeback. [Sportsnet]
The Edmonton Oilers waived goalie Jack Campbell, who is still owed a lot of money. [NHL] But they couldn’t wait any longer as this supposed contender’s playoff hopes are in danger. [Sportsnet]
The story behind the player-tracking data finally making it to the fans. [E$PN+]
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