CHICAGO — It wasn’t a must-win in terms of the playoffs. But circumstances and weak opponent dictated that Friday night certainly was a can’t-afford-to-lose for the Islanders.
Yet they did despite rallying from a two-goal deficit in the third period. The Islanders dropped a 4-3 overtime decision to Central Division-trailing Chicago, which was playing on back-to-back nights and has a long list of injured players — starting with No. 1 overall pick Connor Bedard — on Friday night at United Center to finish 0-3-1 on a potentially season-wrecking trip.
“I don’t feel the team is anywhere near where it can be or should be,” said coach Lane Lambert, whose job security may start to come into question with the team 2-6-2 since Dec. 31. “We have some players on the team that we clearly need more from.”
The Islanders (19-15-11) got 20 saves from Ilya Sorokin in his eighth straight start as he faced numerous odd-man rushes. Chicago (14-30-2) had scored a total of five goals in losing four of its previous five, including a 3-0 loss in Buffalo on Thursday night.
“Careless play,” Lambert said. “Just really a lack of respect for the way the game should be played in terms of our F3 [third forward] in the offensive zone making sure he was above them. Some bad reads, some bad decisions to pinch and the odd-man rushes hurt us. It’s unacceptable.”
Defenseman Seth Jones scored the winner 21 seconds into overtime. It spoiled the NHL debut of the Islanders’ Kyle MacLean.
“Pucks were going in for us in the third,” said Bo Horvat, who cut the Islanders’ deficit to 3-2 at 6:37 of the third period. “We were getting our chances all game. At the same time, we shouldn’t be in that position in the first place. We have to figure out a way to play 60 minutes of that type of hockey.”
Kyle Palmieri tied it at 3-3 at 12:50 as he beat goalie Petr Mrazek (26 saves) to the left post on a wraparound.
Chicago took a 2-1 lead with two goals within 67 seconds…
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