Islanders squander 3-goal lead in 3rd period, rescue win over Coyotes in SO

Isles blow 3-goal lead, but top Coyotes in SO

PHOENIX — Matt Moulson scored during the sixth shootout round for the New York Islanders, who blew a three-goal lead in the third period but managed to beat the Phoenix Coyotes 5-4 on Saturday night.

The Coyotes trailed 4-1 after two periods before Paul Bissonnette, Taylor Pyatt and Peter Mueller scored in a 3:44 span to tie the game. Mueller’s goal was his second of the season and first since Nov. 5.

Mark Streit and Josh Bailey scored goals 35 seconds apart during a second-period Islanders power play that lasted nearly 10 minutes — including almost three minutes after a major penalty to defenseman Ed Jovanovski expired.

The Coyotes didn’t have a player in the penalty box, and couldn’t get back to full strength until a stoppage in play that didn’t come for several minutes.

Jovanovski scored in the first period for Phoenix before being ejected for an elbow to the face of Islanders rookie John Tavares.

Blake Comeau and Kyle Okposo scored late in the first period to give New York a 2-1 lead.

Each team scored twice in the first five rounds of the shootout before Islanders goalie Dwayne Roloson stopped Phoenix captain Shane Doan. Moulson then beat Coyotes backup Jason LaBarbera to give the Islanders their second win in their last nine visits to Arizona.

Roloson, who made 25 saves in regulation and overtime, is 6-0-1 against the Coyotes.

Phoenix starter Ilya Bryzgalov was pulled after Bailey’s power-play goal made it 4-1 at 9:41 of the second period. He stopped only 11 of 15 shots.

NOTES The Coyotes had been 6-1-1 in their last eight home games against the Islanders, dating to the 1997-98 season. … After allowing the first four shots, the Islanders outshot the Coyotes 23-4 over the next 35 minutes. … Bryzgalov, the NHL’s second star in December, has allowed 15 goals in four games since being chosen to the Russian Olympic team. … Bailey has scored in his three career games against the Coyotes.