Senators right wing Scott Sabourin and Islanders center Derick Brassard battle for the puck during the second period in Ottawa on Thursday. Credit: AP/Fred Chartrand
OTTAWA — The Islanders keep doing themselves no favors as they sputter through this playoff push.
They lost their fifth straight and third straight in regulation, 4-3, to the Senators, who will miss the playoffs for the third straight season. The loss spoiled Jean-Gabriel Pageau’s Thursday night homecoming at Canadian Tire Centre.
The Islanders (35-23-8) scored first and led 2-1 in the second period. But the Senators (24-32-12) tied the game on a shorthanded goal and played a structured game in the third period that carried them to victory.