In ending their points streak that didn’t feel too much like a points streak, the New York Islanders conjured a new problem for themselves in a 4-2 home loss to the Minnesota Wild.
No, they didn’t carry a big third-period lead to blow. And no, they weren’t terribly outshot this time.
Instead, a tight, tied game in the third broke open when penalties kept them from regaining the lead, kept them from holding the tie, and kept them from having a chance to claw back into it once the damage was done.
[NHL Gamecenter | Game Summary | Event Summary | Natural Stat Trick]
The Isles conceded in the opening rush of the game, an alert finish by Pat Maroon after an insightful feed from behind the net by Joel Eriksson Ek, who gave the Isles all kinds of problems throughout the night.