[HelloHockeyFans]

ISLANDERS LOSE IN OT


Felix Potvin misses a shot in the 1st period from the stick of Mark Parrish.

UNIONDALE, NY - The Islanders built up a 4-1 lead in the first period but after squandering the lead, ended up losing by a 7-6 score in overtime.

The Los Angeles Kings have been a real sore point for the Islanders this season. With the season winding down and a playoff race in the Gretzky Conference getting extremely tight, the Islanders probably wished they didn't have to play them again, but unfortunately for them the schedule-makers of the CPHL had the Isles face off against the Kings Sunday afternoon, and have them playing them one last time in a few weeks.

So far this season, the Isles have failed to register a victory against the Kings, who have dominated in each game, outscoring the Islanders by a 17-13 margin in five games played. During the season series thus far, the Isles have posted a 0-3-2 record against Hollywood's best.

Obviously, the losses are getting into their heads.

After building up a 4-1 lead in the first twenty minutes thanks to a goals from Jiri Hudler, Mark Parrish, and a pair from defenceman Oleg Tverdovksy, the Kings stormed back in front of a shocked crowd at the Nassau Coliseum in the second period to come within one goal of tieing the game.

With the score 4-2 in the second period, Marcel Hossa received a pretty pass from Jaroslav Bednar and wheeled his way past the Los Angeles defenders to finish off the play with a highlight-reel goal only Hossa is capable of.

A three-goal lead however, was apparently not enough, as the Kings came back once again in the third led by a pair of goals courtesy Marion Gaborik to send the game into overtime.

Once the game reached overtime, it appeared the Islanders were expecting the worse, and it materialized at 1:46 when Karlis Skrastins fired a one-timer past a screened Cristobal Huet to cap the come-from-behind victory.

In the loss, the Isles gained a point which is a positive, but likely doesn't sit all too well for a team which had a three-goal lead after the first twenty minutes.

Every point counts at this time in the season, and this is especially true for a team which is on the outside looking in.

The Isles will try to exact revenge tomorrow evening when they visit the Maple Leafs in Toronto.