Well, that was somewhat soul crushing, although not completely unexpected.

The Winnipeg jets failed to truly put away the New York Islanders despite having two goal leads at two different points of the game and for the third (or is it fourth?) time this season not only give up a lead late, but give up the game winning goal seconds after things are tied, and ultimately lose 5-4 in yet again heartbreaking fashion.

A good first fifteen minutes that faded into a very concerning last five minutes as the Jets came out hot right from opening puck drop with Brandon Tanev’s pass/shot being deflected in by the foot of Adam Lowry 13 seconds into the game. The Jets up the lead to 2-0 as Lowry tips a Jacob Trouba shot and it’s starting to look like a stellar night for the Jets third line early on. The Islanders do get one back about four minutes later as the Islanders get behind a Jets defense that tried to pressure the puck at the blue line, but for the most part the first period is played pretty even if not tilted in the Jets favor. It’s the last five minutes of play in the period where the Islanders start pressing more and even though they don’t score, they almost put 5 v 5 scoring chances back to even with the Jets holding a slight 7-5 edge.

The Jets get a bit fortunate to start the third period as a handful of Islander chances can’t get past Hellebuyck and then the third line yet again strikes, this time with them taking advantage of two Islanders without sticks in their own zone.

After that though things start taking an ugly turn quickly. A too many men penalty takes place when Tyler Myers inexplicably jumps on the ice and then 30 seconds later while killing the first penalty, Myers takes a second penalty for cross-checking. The Islanders of course score on the ensuing 5 on 3 power play chance. New York continues to press the pace of play and starts forcing the Jets into their typical turnover machine selves. Winnipeg manages to hang on to the lead after forty, but the 5v5 scoring chances heavily favor the Islanders in the period 12-4. If not for Hellebuyck, this thing could have been tied by now.

It takes a few minutes into the third period, but the Jets show some life and force the Islanders into some penalty trouble and then cash in on the power play as once again a Jacob Trouba blast is tipped by Mark Scheifele and past Robin Lehner to restore the Jets two goal lead. Lehner – who earlier in the day was named the Islanders nominee for the Masterton Trophy – made a handful of eye-popping saves to keep the Jets within reach. Again, when the Jets got up by two, they almost seemed to let the Islanders dictate play yet again. Jordan Eberle got the Isles back within one slightly over a minute after Scheifele’s goal.

New York continues it’s steady pressure with Hellebuyck now having to make desperate saves playing behind an increasingly porous defense, but with less that two minutes left in the game the Islanders tie things up and then 33 seconds later take the lead to stun the Winnipeg faithful and the Jets as they earn a 5-4 win.