There’s losing and there’s losing ugly.
The New York Islanders are familiar with the latter after blowing a 3-0 lead against the Avalanche on Thursday night from the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado.
The Islanders drew first blood late in the opening frame when center Josh Bailey (assisted by Mark Streit) tipped one in on the power play at the 15:36 mark to make it one-zip.
In the second period, Brian Rolston (assisted by Pierre Parenteau and Frans Nielsen) needed just 34 seconds to find the net and give New York a two-nothing lead. Michael Grabner (assisted by Matt Moulson and Mark Streit) made it three with a 10-foot deflection at eight minutes even.
That’s when the Islanders went from cruise control to lose control.
Paul Stastny (assisted by David Jones and Kyle Quincey) sank a power play goal to close out the second stanza with a long distance wrist shot to get the home team on the board. Milan Hejduk (assisted by Shane O’Brien) and Jan Hejda (assisted by Daniel Winnik and Ryan O’Reilly) each scored in the third period to make it three apiece and send it into overtime.
That’s when diaster struck.
Al Montoya was sent to the penalty box for high-sticking David Jones, giving the Avalanche an opportunity to score a power play goal and secure the come-from-behind win.
Thanks to a tip-in from David Jones (assisted by Kyle Quincey and Milan Hejduk), that’s exactly what they did.
Final score: Avalanche 4, Islanders 3. Colorado improves to 8-7-1 with the victory while New York falls to 4-6-3 in defeat.
For more on Thursday's game, visit Lighthouse Hockey and the New York Islanders team page.