Islanders 5, Blackhawks 4: Isles wake up, then fall asleep again vs. bad team

Even the easy ones are by no means easy.

The New York Islanders rebounded for a victory over the Chicago Blackhawks, which looked easy during the middle frame but was bookended by lethargy and carelessness.

Technically, they’ve won three out of four, a nice run for them as three significant players are finally nearing a return from extended injury absences. But the 5-4 final carries with it a sour taste thanks to a lethargic first period and then going to sleep after taking a 5-1 lead in the third.

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After feeling good about their effort in the final 40 minutes against the very solid Kings, the Islanders came out and played a really uninspiring opening 20 against the very bad Hawks. They escaped the first period trailing only 1-0, however; the only one of 11 shots to get past Ilya Sorokin came when the penalty kill failed to hoist Connor by his own Bedard.

In the second period, the Islanders were still listless to begin. But a power play at 4:56 surprisingly shifted the trajectory. They equalized, not technically on the power play, but right after it expired and while maintaining the same shape. Dennis Cholowski fired a one-timer to tie it at 1-1.

Simon Holmstrom then gave them the lead seven minutes later, with a shot from distance through about four bodies after some good forechecking and cycling.

With order restored, would the Isles finish the game, or blow it in the third?

Three goals in a 2:19 span provided the answer. By the 7:58 mark, the Isles were up 5-1.

It started with Noah Dobson jumping up and scoring from the left wing, after a nice hold and pass by Brock Nelson in the neutral zone, which followed a big check by Anders Lee to change possession in the defensive zone.

Then Holmstrom made another nice play to feed Bo Horvat at the back door. Finally, Max Tsyplakov was left alone in front of the net — shortly after being dumped behind the net — to pick up a rebound of a Kyle Palmieri shot for his sixth of the season.

The game was done, but this being the Islanders, it was not dusted.

One measure of what happened next: The Hawks switched goalies at 5-1, but NHL debtant Drew Commesso only faced two shots on goal.

While Shannon Hogan was interviewing Patrick Maroon’s son, a 16-year-old who’s living with the (Josh) Baileys and helping adjudicate sibling battles in the basement, the Hawks broke the Islanders’ run of five goals with a point shot through traffic by TJ Brodie.

Then Tyler Bertuzzi was allowed to score twice in the final 1:10 to make it 5-4, taking the shine off what should have been a satisfying night. Somehow, the Islanders took a 5-1 third-period lead and two points and fill them with all the angst that’s accompanied their 19 losses this season.

Quote(s) of the Night

“If I’m Patrick Roy I’m calling a timeout right now. Something to wake these guys up. The old ‘I don’t care if we just use six skaters all night, I’m using the guys who are trying. … They could be down 3-0 right now.”

>>Butch Goring when the Isles were listless to start the second period while trailing 1-0

“No. That’s gotta go in, no matter the score. Sorry.”

>>Butch after Tsyplakov made a risky intercepted play instead of a dump-in with the Isles leading 5-1 in the third.

“It’s just the passiveness of the Islanders, when they have a chance to be aggressive.”

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