More Skinny on the blown leads

The Isles are the 1st team since 1985-86 Maple Leafs to go winless in 5 consecutive games (single season) that they had a two-goal lead. (Thanks, Elias Sports Bureau)

1/23 Vs Pittsburgh Led 2-0, lost 6-4

1/25 Vs St. Louis   Led 2-0, lost 4-3 (SO)

3/2 Vs Florida:       Led 3-1, lost 5-3

3/6 At Edmonton:  Led 2-0, lost 3-2 (OT)

3/7 At Calgary:      Led 3-1, lost 4-3

All 5 of these games have come in last 14 Isles games, in which they have gone 3-9-2.

Overall, the Isles have lost failed to win 12 games in which they have held two goal leads this season; most in NHL by wide margin (Detroit 6, Washington 6).  Again --Thanks Elias Sports Bureau)

The Isles have won only 9 of 20 games that they have led after 2 periods (9-6-5, meaning they have won only 45% of these games)

Worst winning percentage when leading after 2 periods (since 1997-98)

1999-2000 Atlanta Thrashers  .500

2000-2001 Florida Panthers    .500

2005-2006 St. Louis Blues      .500

It hasn't always been that way:

Isles records when leading after 2 (since 1997-98)

1997-98 25-0-6-1  .781  (W-L-T-OTL)

1998-99 19-1-4-2  .731

1999-00 17-1-2-1   .810

2000-01 13-3-2-1  .684

2001-02 30-0-4-1  .857

2002-03 28-1-5-0  .824

2003-04 26-0-5-0  .839

2004-05 lockout

2005-06 23-3-1  .852 (W-L-OTL/SOL)

2006-07 29-1-5  .829

2007-08 22-1-2  .880

2008-09 21-5-4  .700

2009-10 27-3-4  .794

2010-11 19-3-5  .704

2011-12 19-1-8  .679

2012-13 16-2-1  .842

2013-14   9-6-5  .450

The Isles actually had a 61 game streak from Nov 2002 to October 2005 in which they went 53-0-8 when they led after 2 periods (When it was broken, it was the longest current streak in the NHL). An OT loss ended that streak, but the Isles would go until December 26, 2005 before they would lose in regulation (Thomas Vanek scored the winning goal for Buffalo).

(Note, however that no Islander team in that span has won 90% of the games that they led after 2 periods -- this in itself is unusual.  This season, there are currently 7 NHL teams that have won 90% of the games that they have led into the third, including the Kings who are 19-0-0; in the shortened 2012-13 season both the Rangers (16-0-0) and Columbus (13-0-0) were perfect in games that they have led after 2)

For comparison, the Isles have 7 wins this season when trailing after two periods, which is their highest total since at least 1997-98 (and is tied with Philadelphia for the most in the NHL this season):

Isles records when trailing after 2 periods:

1997-98 1-33-2-0 .028 (W-L-T-OTL)

1998-99 2-34-2-1  .051

1999-00 3-41-2-0  .065

2000-01 1-42-1-2  .022

2001-02 4-20-3-0  .148

2002-03 5-25-4-1  .143

2003-04 3-25-3-0  .097

2004-05 lockout

2005-06 1-29-2  .031 (W-L-OTL/SOL)

2006-07 5-26-1  .156

2007-08 4-31-3  .105

2008-09 1-35-5  .024

2009-10 3-31-5  .077

2010-11  5-27-4  .139

2011-12  2-31-2  .057

2012-13   2-7-5 .143

2013-14   7-22-2 .226

Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick, statistician on Islander home telecasts since January 21, 1982. Visit my blog: NYISkinny.com and follow me on Twitter @ehornick