The Islanders were right back in an all-too-familiar spot Saturday, trailing 2-0 in the first period for the third time in three games.
This night proved different, in a big way.
After the Islanders mounted a third-period comeback, only to have it wiped away by the Kings tying the game with 13 seconds left in regulation, Jordan Eberle scored the game-winner 1:54 into overtime to capture a 4-3 win at Barclays Center.
“This is a huge win for us,” coach Doug Weight said. “Going down 2-0 to one of the better defensive teams, better road teams — better teams in the league — it’s pretty special.”
After goalie Thomas Greiss stonewalled Anze Kopitar on a breakaway at the other end, Eberle took a pass from Mathew Barzal and buried it top shelf.
“I thought the whole night we played well,” Eberle said. “Obviously the score wasn’t leaning our way for most of the game, but we stuck with it, found a way to take the lead and ultimately win.”
The Islanders (18-12-3) had been stuck in a 2-6-1 skid over their previous nine games entering Saturday, coming in with back-to-back regulation losses for the first time this season. But a sense of urgency and grit made sure it didn’t fall to three.
Anders Lee was nearly the hero in regulation, backhanding a pass top shelf for his 20th goal of the year to give the Islanders their first lead of the game with 3:16 left.
But with 13 seconds left in the third, Kopitar jammed home a rebound past Greiss. Weight challenged the goal for interference, but the call was confirmed. The coach was livid because the Islanders had a similar goal called back Monday against the Capitals.
“It’s the same exact play,” Weight said.
But his players made sure it was only a footnote Saturday.
The Islanders’ first line continued to fly around, with each of them scoring a goal. John Tavares assisted on two, but his own goal was the equalizer at 4:15 of the third period. Josh Bailey sent a pass to Lee, who misfired, but the puck slid over to Tavares in the right circle, where the captain ripped a slap shot into the back of the net to tie it at two.
“Our group just does a really good job of staying in the moment and not worrying about things going against us,” Tavares said.
For the 22nd time in 33 games this season, the Islanders had to play from behind after Oscar Fantenberg put the Kings up 1-0 at 12:56 of the first period. Then for the third time in the past three games, the Islanders went down 2-0, courtesy of a power-play goal from Tyler Toffoli at 17:11.
But they got one back in the final minute of the period, which helped swing momentum. Calvin de Haan fired off a wrister and Bailey was there in front of the net to redirect it in for his ninth goal of the year.
“We definitely wanted it,” Bailey said. “As of late, we kind of let some games slip away from us. So it was important for us to come out here and get a big two points.”
Making his second straight start — his first back-to-back starts since Nov. 22-24 — Greiss was strong, making 26 saves. In his previous three starts before Saturday, he had allowed a combined 16 goals, but kept his team alive in this one, especially on Kopitar’s overtime breakaway attempt.
“We just gotta build on it,” Greiss said, “and keep the momentum going.”