The Islanders most successful season in years ended in overtime of Game 6 of their first round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins. After controlling play for much of regulation, Brooks Orpik ended the game with a single shot.
It was quite competitive in the first, it was quite over in the second.
Okposo shined again, Tavares delivered a poetic winner, Fleury provided gifts to require a Game 6 and another Coliseum date.
The Islanders did so many things well in Game 3, but they will need more of the same plus better special teams to tie the series.
Aww, it was just a two-goal comeback. But it felt so much bigger the way things started.
Now that there is what they call a lesson.
The Islanders salvaged an important point, moving them back into 6th place in the Eastern Conference
The Islanders were sluggish and sloppy early, conceded the go-ahead goal late, and came up empty on a night when the Rangers and Senators won to bump the Isles out of sixth place.
A frustrating game but a determined comeback mean the New York Islanders return to the playoffs for the first time since 2007.
The Isles never trailed and blew three separate leads, but they converted in the shootout to move up to 53 points on the season.
The Islanders conceded early, but shot early and often, ultimately grabbing a comfortable win in Toronto.
In a treat to home fans on Fan Appreciation Night, the Islanders took care of business early.
The Isles and Rangers gave re-birth to a rivalry that has lacked meaningful games in recent years.
The Isles sealed a 2-1 win in Boston, their first over the Bruins in three tries, their eighth win in the last 10 games, their 45th and 46th points of the season.
Once again, the Islanders got even-strength goals from multiple lines and then choked the life out of the game in the third period like a team that's done this before.
The Islanders gave up two one-goal leads, but Matt Martin scored a building-shaking goal late in the third to key a 4-2 win.
The Islanders ran into Braden Holtby and some finally poor shootout luck to claim only one point in D.C.
The Isles controlled play, erased a brief 2-1 deficit, and put the Jets away in the third period as they move into a tie for seventh place.
It wasn't always pretty, but it was two points -- and almost as importantly, not three.
Josh Bailey left the game injured, but the Penguins lost two more important players and the New York Islanders couldn't take advantage.
It was almost Colin McDonald's night with his two big third-period goals, but for the Islanders wins can never be that smooth.
The Islanders continue to win on the road, downing the Caps with a late 3rd period goal.
True story: The New York Islanders entered the third period with a lead ... and didn't commit a backbreaking mistake.
Once again, a soft goal tied it and a third-period gaffe enabled the difference as the Isles drop their third in a row at home.
The first half was promising -- good even. The third period was all too familiar.
This time, the blown third-period lead was for keeps.
