It turns out that a leaky defense, turnovers every other shift, and a surplus of breakaways isn’t a good way to win a hockey game.

The Islanders had a huge chance to score the first goal early in the game after the Oilers collaped and allowed New York’s rush into their own end with numbers. New York had Stuart Skinner dead to rights after a couple quick passes but ultimately couldn’t get a shot off on a wide open net.

With four minutes left to play in the first period Bouchard got sloppy and was pickpocketed while trying to walk the puck around Matthew Barzal. Barzal sprinted away from the scene and straight towards Stuart Skinner where he put the puck bar down to open scoring.

Edmonton struck back on a powerplay goal off the faceoff draw. McDavid wrangled the puck and found a pass to Leon Draisaitl who skated into the slot and landed a tight angle shot past David Rittich’s stick side to tie the game.

Bouchard continued having a rough night, leaking a second huge breakaway opportunity for the Islanders, and a turnover while trying to reclaim the zone in the ensuing scramble – Skinner was able to shut the door long enough to get Edmonton to the intermission with the score tied.

Half way through the second the Islanders lost control of the puck in center ice. Ty Emberson secured possession and fired a pass to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins who blazed into the zone and beat Rittich clean with a perfectly placed corner shot.

Edmonton went to the powerplay, but New York was able to get an early clear past Draisaitl. Making matters worse, Bouchard wasn’t in position to collect the puck; The puck went sailing into the wide open arms of Bo Harvat who proceeded to wrist a shot past Skinner to re-tie the game while shorthanded. Connor McDavid was given a breakaway to end the powerplay, but Rittich was able to shut the door.

Trent Frederic took an undisciplined high sticking call late into the game and the Islanders made Edmonton pay for it quickly. The Islanders won their offensive faceoff draw and routed the puck to Bo Horvat inbetween the Oilers defenders – one slapshot later and the Islanders regained the lead with five minutes remaining, which proved to be fatal.

Bo Horvat finished the game with an empty netter in garbage time to complete the hat trick and rub some extra salt in the wound for Edmonton.

The Islanders were 0-3 for the season before tonight – they obviously wanted a win, but that’s no excuse, the Oilers had chances to put the game away and instead let it slip. With that being said, it’s still October – learn from it and move on. Next up are back to back matinee games against New Jersey and Detroit.