Islanders befuddled by 3rd-period collapses: ‘It’s always in the back of your mind’

Dec 5, 2023; Elmont, New York, USA; San Jose Sharks left wing William Eklund (72) celebrates his game winning overtime goal against the New York Islanders with 4.3 seconds to go during the overtime period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports

ELMONT, N.Y. — There the Islanders sat, once again, dumbfounded as to what had just happened.

For the fifth time this season, the Islanders lost a game they entered the third period leading, blowing a 4-1 lead by allowing three goals over a 6:35 span — yielding the game-tying tally with 1:30 left in regulation to Tomas Hertl, who capped off a frenzied comeback for one of the worst teams in hockey, the San Jose Sharks.

Then, with 4.3 seconds left in overtime, William Eklund beat Islanders netminder Ilya Sorokin to secure the unlikely 5-4 triumph on Tuesday night at UBS Arena.

“I don’t have any words for you on that,” captain Anders Lee said after the demoralizing loss. “Bad. Just really bad.”

Islanders come undone in 3rd again, blow 3-goal lead to lose 5-4 in OT to Sharks

The Islanders’ latest collapse was the 10th time this season that the Islanders have squandered a lead in the third period — continuing the alarming fact that this is a team that can’t close out games consistently enough to be considered a legitimate playoff contender. 

“It’s unacceptable, that’s all that needs to be said,” center Brock Nelson said. “Up two at home, four or five minutes left, we should be putting two points in the bank and moving on… For whatever reason, this is costing us too many times.”

Turnovers are the main crux of the issue. A Ryan Pulock giveaway directly led to Kevin Labanc’s goal with 8:05 remaining in regulation to make it a 4-2 game. A giveaway in the neutral zone led to an icing that set the Sharks up in the Islanders’ zone for Hertl’s second goal of the night to make it a one-goal game with 3:11 to go. A failed clear attempt then extended San Jose’s zone…