Islanders come back from three-goal deficit to tie but fall to Flyers

There was a buzzing energy in the building with season-ticket holders back in a limited capacity at Nassau Coliseum. But it didn’t energize the initially sluggish Islanders until midway through the third period.

The 1,391 fans — the allowed 10% of capacity — wound up witnessing a stirring comeback. The Islanders rallied from a three-goal deficit and tied it with three goals in the third period, but Oskar Lindblom’s second goal with 2:22 left gave the Flyers a 4-3 win on Thursday night at Nassau Coliseum as the teams opened a three-game series.

The Islanders (19-8-4) lost in regulation on home ice for the first time after going 12-0-2 without the season-ticket holders.

Coach Barry Trotz was at a loss to explain a performance that ranged from flat to awful during the first 40 minutes, and also the two mental errors by defenseman Scott Mayfield that led to the winning goal.

"I can’t account for it or give you a real logical explanation for that at all," Trotz said. "We didn’t execute. We didn’t win very many battles and we dug ourselves a real big hole. Why? I have no idea.

"The first period we looked a little flat, which was surprising. I knew that Philly would be very determined. The second period, our execution was poor. When you need to go north, we kept going south."

The Flyers, who won in regulation for the first time since March 4, were coming off a 9-0 loss to the Rangers on Wednesday night in which they allowed seven goals in the second period.

So it’s a two-game losing streak for the Islanders after Tuesday’s 3-1 road loss to the Capitals snapped a nine-game winning streak and 11-0-1 run. It was the Islanders’ fourth game without Anders Lee (torn right anterior cruciate ligament) but their first since president and general manager Lou Lamoriello announced he would miss the remainder of the season.

"I’m not going to have any excuses," Trotz said. "I was disappointed. I’m disappointed in our push in the second and just our thought process of how to play the game. Not enough detail. You knew that you’re going to have to play with some weight against this team that’s going to be very determined. It wasn’t a good enough effort.

"I like the fact that we came back. And then we shoot ourselves in the foot."

Lindblom beat Semyon Varlamov (27 saves) from the slot at 17:38 of the third period for the winner, with Mayfield giving him too much room to operate. The Flyers had won an offensive-zone draw after Mayfield iced the puck as the Flyers looked to make a line change.

It prevented the Islanders from gaining at least a point, even if their 60-minute effort didn’t deserve it.

"Any time you come back from three goals, that’s what you’re hoping for, to tie it up," said defenseman Nick Leddy, who assisted on all three of the Islanders’ goals. "Things happen in games. It’s a game of mistakes. We got to our game in the third. Just one play got us."

Michael Dal Colle ended Carter Hart’s shutout bid with a wrister from the left at 7:53 of the third period. It was the Islanders’ first shot of the period and his first goal in 32 games.

Defenseman Sebastian Aho followed with his first NHL goal since Jan. 7, 2018, to make it 3-2 at 13:53. Rookie Oliver Wahlstrom tied it at 3 at 14:27 off Leddy’s cross-ice feed.

Boos actually followed the Islanders off the ice after their lifeless effort in the Flyers’ three-goal second period.

Defenseman Andy Greene left Lindblom open at the crease to knock in a rebound at 2:26. Claude Giroux’s deflection made it 2-0 at 10:04 and Jakub Voracek scored at 14:01 off a three-on-two rush.

By Andrew Gross

andrew.gross@newsday.comAGrossNewsday

Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.