Minnesota Wild’s Marcus Foligno (17) fights for control of the puck with New York Islanders’ Ryan Pulock (6) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
ELMONT, N.Y. — The unmistakeable and puzzling sounds of a faceless, nameless, and perhaps intoxicated suite member at UBS Arena singing opera just outside the Islanders’ locker room provided a bewildering soundtrack as defenseman Ryan Pulock attempted to parse through what went wrong for his side in the third period of Tuesday night’s 4-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild.
Opera and hockey go together as well as a bakery and a pile of sweaty socks choking out the scent of freshly made bread on a Sunday morning, but this one rambunxious fan has provided an exception at least for one day as the Islanders find themselves repeating (they’re called ritornellos in opera) the same concerning verse within the 82-act composition that is the 2023-24 season.
The first and second scenes of each act have generally gone on without a hitch. The Islanders are outscoring their opponents 21-15 in the first two periods of games this season, including an 11-4 advantage in first periods.
It built them a 3-0 lead early in the third period against the Detroit Red Wings on Oct. 30, a 3-1 advantage heading into the third against the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday, and on Tuesday night, they were knotted up at two apiece with the Wild.
But the Islanders gave up three goals in 3:58 in the third period to the Red Wings before losing in overtime. They gave up two goals in 3:07 in the third period to the Hurricanes before losing in overtime. They gave up two goals in 42 seconds in the third period on Tuesday night in a 4-2 loss to the Wild.
In fact, the Islanders have held leads in each of their eight home games this season and out of a possible 16 points, came away with just nine.
“We’re sticking with our game plan. We’re not changing…
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