The 5 Hole: Third Period Disaster Averted

The most important game of the year turned into the wildest game of the season.
Goals by Johnny Boychuk, Jason Chimera and Casey Cizikas gave the Islanders a 3-0 lead into the 3rd period against the defending Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins only to see that lead vanish on goals by Conor Sheary, Justin Schultz and Evgeni Malkin.
In the final minute, Anders Lee deflected Thomas Hickey’s shot from the point behind Matt Murray to take back the lead. Nikolay Kulemin scored into an empty net just 3 seconds later – tying a NHL record for the fastest goals by one team.
The 5-3 win marks just the second time this season the Isles have won back to back games. They go for three in a row Thursday Night against the Capitals in D.C.
Here the social media recap:

OFF THE PIPE! pic.twitter.com/d2VeHenJ4R

— NBC Sports Hockey (@NBCSportsHockey) December 1, 2016

Gotta give the Islanders credit, they're still in this one.

— Daniel Friedman (@DanJFriedman) December 1, 2016

Pierre thinks the #Isles have "firepower" on offense…

— Mike Carver (@CarverHigh_) December 1, 2016

A @joboych Rocket!!! 🚀🚨 pic.twitter.com/ia164JRRHV

— 𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐢𝐱 (@IslesFix) December 1, 2016

When your dad finds a new belt clip for his cell phone pic.twitter.com/owhEtC20FS

— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) December 1, 2016

https://twitter.com/RNs_Funhouse/status/804143148989562887

I'll take it! 2-0 #isles pic.twitter.com/UsB0k5c8Gq

— Eyes on Isles (@eyesonislesFS) December 1, 2016

Clutterbuck: "Gimme your helmet."
Crosby: "Huh?"
Clutterbuck: "MINE!!" pic.twitter.com/l2Vuv3hKpm

— Benstonium (@Benstonium) December 1, 2016

this sequence just looked funny to me pic.twitter.com/HdqjNj4RYh

— connor (@ConIsles) December 1, 2016

Disgusting save by Matt Murray on the 5-on-3 pic.twitter.com/JTdkBAK8ru

— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) December 1, 2016

 

Zeeker! #Isles pic.twitter.com/kUs0HVsuNg

— 𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐢𝐱 (@IslesFix) December 1, 2016

First 3-0 lead the #Isles have had all season, it's November 30th

— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) December 1, 2016

And then all went to hell …

#Pens are on the board 32 seconds in. Sheary makes it 3-1. #Isles

— Brian Compton (@BComptonNHL) December 1, 2016

The @Penguins are making this interesting!

WATCH: https://t.co/H88B1TjYUB https://t.co/dzxkMYdBiu

— NBC Sports Bet (@NBCSportsBet) December 1, 2016

And we're tied #isles pic.twitter.com/FjXayMy7Fi

— YESUV🚙 (@IslesWhiteSUV) December 1, 2016

Live look-in on #Isles fans pic.twitter.com/ku5863J7OA

— Brittany (@applesiderr) December 1, 2016

And then the unthinkable happened!

Great look at the Anders Lee game-winning goal for the Islanders pic.twitter.com/vg2UjMwNke

— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) December 1, 2016

Huge goal, perhaps. Only the second two-game winning streak of the season for the Isles. On to December.

— Peter Botte (@PeterBotte) December 1, 2016

🚨🚨🚨!! Kuly with the empty netter off the faceoff!! 5-3 #Isles!

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) December 1, 2016

History in Brooklyn: FASTEST TWO GOALS IN #ISLES HISTORY (3 seconds)

— Eric Hornick (@ehornick) December 1, 2016

That was a heckuva game. But seriously, this team needs to figure out third periods like yesterday.

— Dan (@cultureoflosing) December 1, 2016

The @NYIslanders take down the Penguins. What a game! #RivalryNight https://t.co/pScXz9JDj6

— NBC Sports Bet (@NBCSportsBet) December 1, 2016