Islanders let another one get away, fall to Red Wings on two third-period goals

DETROIT — The Islanders stressed the need to complete their five-game road trip, the longest of the season, on a good note.

Left unsaid was the need to protect a lead if they got one.

They didn’t and couldn’t even earn a point as Lucas Raymond scored the winner with 51.1 seconds left in regulation as the Red Wings rallied for a 2-1 victory on Thursday night at Little Caesars Arena.

Ilya Sorokin made 29 saves as the Islanders returned to Long Island a disappointing 1-2-2 on the trip.

Jonatan Bergren tied it for the Red Wings on a two-on-one rush at 15:14 of the third period. It marked the seventh time this season the Islanders (7-8-5) could not hold a third-period lead and the third game in a row.

The Islanders had been unable to hold third-period leads in each of their last two games, Saturday’s 3-2 loss in Seattle and Tuesday’s 2-1 shootout loss in Calgary.

The Red Wings have been a mediocre team so far this season but their power play has been potent. It ranked second in the NHL entering Thursday’s match at 16-for-50 but the Red Wings (8-9-2) had only scored 22 goals skating five-on-five.

So the Islanders were well aware they needed to stay out of the penalty box.

But defenseman Ryan Pulock was whistled for hooking at 1:18 of the first period, defenseman Alexander Romanov shot the puck over the glass for a delay of game at 5:19 of the second period and Pierre Engvall slashed Lucas Raymond at 8:26 of the second period.

Yet the Islanders’ penalty kill was strong, going 3-for-3 and allowing a total of six man-advantage shots, none with Engvall in the box.

The Islanders couldn’t capitalize on their one power-play opportunity after Christian Fischer tripped defenseman Scott Mayfield at 3:41 of the third period, managing two shots on Alex Lyon (22 saves).

The Red Wings, who also visit the Islanders on Monday, won the first meeting between the teams 1-0 at UBS Arena on Oct. 22 despite taking just 11 shots on Sorokin that night.

They matched that total Thursday at 18:09 of the first period on Raymond’s backhander.

The Islanders took a 1-0 lead at 5:51 of the first period as Simon Holmstrom got to the crease to deflect Mayfield’s shot from the blue line. Sorokin preserved that lead by stuffing Alex DeBrincat twice on in-tight shots midway through the first period.

Sorokin also robbed DeBrincat at the post on the Red Wings’ first power play of the second period.

Notes & quotes: Defenseman Alexander Romanov played in his 300th NHL regular season game . . . Defenseman Dennis Cholowski, 26, played his first game against the Red Wings, who selected him 20th overall in 2016 . . . Defenseman Grant Hutton and forward Hudson Fasching remained healthy scratches . . . Newly-inducted Hall of Famer Pavel Datsyuk, who spent all 14 of his NHL seasons with the Red Wings from 2001-16, was honored before the game and dropped the ceremonial first puck. The Stanley Cup and the Lady Byng and Selke Trophies, all won by Datsyuk, were on display at Little Caesars Arena.

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.