Dec 5, 2023; Elmont, New York, USA; New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (30) makes a save as New York Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield (24) and San Jose Sharks right wing Justin Bailey (90) battle for the loose puck during the first period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports
ELMONT, N.Y. — The Islanders can’t escape third-period calamities and this time, it sunk them in deep water against the lowly San Jose Sharks.
New York blew a three-goal third-period lead in the final eight minutes of regulation before San Jose’s William Eklund fired the game-winner for the Sharks with 4.3 seconds remaining in overtime, relegating the Islanders to a disastrous 5-4 loss.
“We had the game under control with eight-and-a-half minutes left,” head coach Lane Lambert began. “To lose that hockey game is sin.”
After taking a three-goal lead with 11:33 remaining in the third period following Mike Reilly’s shorthanded goal — his first as an Islander — and a power-play strike by Ryan Pulock, New York allowed a trio of San Jose goals in a 6:35 span in the final moments of regulation to force overtime. Kevin Labanc’s redirection with 8:05 to go was followed up by a pair of Tomas Hertl tallies to cap off a hat trick — his final tally tying the game with 1:30 remaining in the third period for an easy tap-in goal when left wide open at the right post.
“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.”
Bo Horvat and Simon Holmstrom each recorded a pair of assists while Julien Gauthier and Nelson scored early goals for the Islanders (10-7-7) in their first game of a six-game homestand.
Gauthier gave the Islanders the lead at the 9:28 mark of the first period when he rifled a Holmstrom pass top shelf for his second goal in…
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