Islanders blow multiple leads, see winning streak end in shootout loss to Bruins
The Islanders nearly finished off their homestand in perfect fashion.
Instead they finished it with a reminder of what has been their fatal flaw all season: an inability to hang onto leads.
The Bruins stopped the Islanders winning streak at four, coming back four different times to sink the home team 5-4 in a shootout following David Pastrnaks game-winner in the fourth round on Friday night at UBS Arena.
S— happens, Ilya Sorokin told The Post after stopping 30 of 34 shots.
By no means does an overtime loss which extends the Islanders point streak to seven straight with at least a point in 14 of 15 negate what was been an immensely successful six-game homestand.
But it does leave a bit of a sour taste given that the Islanders held commanding leads in both games they lost 4-1 against San Jose and 2-0 against Boston.
And like that game against the Sharks, the Islanders had every chance to win on Friday.
5David Pastrnak (88) scores off New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (30) for the win. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
5Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (88) scores on New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (30) during the second period. Corey Sipkin for the NY POSTBut in a third period that started with the game tied at two, in which the Islanders would lead 3-2 and 4-3, they could not put the game away.
Our penalty killing gave up three power-play goals, coach Lane Lambert said. That was basically the difference in the game.
That and an uncalled trip on Morgan Geekie right before the Bruins scored their only even-strength goal of the night to tie it at four.
Geekie plowed into Julien Gauthier with an official looking right at the play, but there was no call and Mason Lohrei quickly capitalized, banking a shot in to make it 4-4 at the 16:51 mark of the third.
5Islanders center Brock Nelson (29) claps the puck away from Boston Bruins center Morgan Geekie (39) during the first period. Corey Sipkin for the NY POSTI dont think there was a trip. Its very clear there was a trip on that play, Lambert said. The play shouldve been called dead and then somehow it found its way in from the back of the net but theres no question it shouldnt have happened because it shouldve been a penalty.
The Islanders were given a chance of their own on the power play to start overtime after Pastrnak tripped Kyle Palmieri at the tail end of regulation but could not convert. Nor could they capitalize in the skills competition.
The Islanders showed the same fight back they had throughout the past couple weeks when Bo Horvat scored on the power play just 5:06 into the third to take the lead right back.
And it looked like the breaks were going their way when Brad Marchands apparent game-tying goal was called back, with the referees saying he directed the puck with his hands.
5Anders Lee #27 of the New York Islanders battles for puck against Mason Lohrei #6 of the Boston Bruins. NHLI via Getty ImagesBut the same penalty kill that allowed the Bruins to tie the game at two quickly allowed them to tie it at three, with James van Riemsdyk directing Kevin Shattenkirks initial shot past Sorokin to re-tie the game.
The last goal they scored on the power play there was a battle in the corner and we got beat off the wall, Lambert said. That cant happen.
The Islanders seemed to have the better of this one on paper going into the third.
Despite a ferocious Boston forecheck, they started finding ways to break the puck up the ice and broke through with Alexander Romanovs goal from an offensive zone faceoff 1:42 into the second.
5Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov (28) celebrates his goal during the second period against the Boston Bruins at UBS Arena. Corey Sipkin for the NY POSTSimon Holmstrom doubled the lead to make it 2-0 at the 13:26 mark, finishing a breakaway from Casey Cizikas after Shattenkirk turned the puck over in the offensive zone, and it looked like Holmstrom would score again to make it 3-0 on a shorthanded break after Gauthier was sent off for tripping just a few seconds later.
Linus Ullmark, however, came up with a diving stop on Holmstroms rebound chance which the Bruins quickly capitalized on as Geekie cut the lead in half to 2-1 with a slot one-timer before the power play was over.
And when the Islanders were called for too many men on the ice just 1:50 later, Pastrnak made them pay with a left-circle one-timer after Cizikas clearing attempt failed.
The chance to make it 3-0 and Ullmarks subsequent denial was the moment the game started to flip in the wrong direction for the Islanders.
The Bruins are amongst the best teams in the league for a reason. They can jump on moments like that.
As for the Islanders, its not yet clear whether theyre in the same class.
How many decks are used in poker?
In most popular poker variants, such as Texas Hold'em and Omaha, a standard deck of 52 playing cards is used. Each deck contains four suits (hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades) and consists of 13 ranks (Ace, 2 through 10, and the face cards: Jack, Queen, and King).
What is the bonus code for WPT Global Poker 2023?
The best bonus code for WPT Global is WPT777. By entering the bonus code, players will get a welcome bonus 100% up to $1,200 on the first deposit. The minimum deposit is $20.
What is the best WPT Global bonus code?
Use the WPT Global bonus code WPT777 when registering to get a 100% deposit bonus up to $1200 plus a $100 No Deposit poker bonus.
