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New York Islanders lose final regular season game in Nassau Coliseum

By Nick Ziegler

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The New York Islanders, in an emotional final regular season game in the Nassau Coliseum were unable to use that energy to get the win they needed for home ice in a disappointing loss.

In the rowdy Coliseum, both teams would come out with an extra edge, and that showed with the amount of penalties in the period. Between the two teams there were nine combined penalties, with Eric Boulton and Dalton Prout each getting slapped with fighting majors.

The final penalty of the period however would hurt the Islanders, as the Blue Jackets would break the scoreless game up with a power-play goal from Cam Atkinson. The goal from Atkinson came with less than 10 seconds remaining in the period, and was his 22nd goal of the season with assists going to Boone Jenner, and David Savard.

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In the second period, things would settle down a little bit after a crazy first period. The Islanders entered the period trailing by one goal, but Kyle Okposo would tie the game up with his 18th goal of the season on a nice pass from Josh Bailey. After 30 shots combined in the first period, the teams would combine for 10 less in the second period, as things tightened up.

Needing a win, the Islanders came out firing in the third period. Boulton after an exciting fight in the first period, would score the goal to give the Islanders a 2-1 lead. The goal for Boulton was his second of the season, with assists going to Tyler Kennedy, and Nick Leddy. Less than a minute later, the Islanders would take a two-goal lead with a goal from John Tavares. The 38th goal of the season for Tavares gave the Islanders some breathing room, with the assists going to Okposo, and Leddy.

The Blue Jackets would answer the two quick goals by the Islanders in the third period with two quick goals of their own, as Brandon Dubinsky scored his 13th of the season. On a delayed penalty call, the Blue Jackets would score yet again with a goal from Alexander Wennberg, which was his fourth of the season.

With the Islanders needing a goal, a shot from Tavares would be slammed home by Nikolay Kulemin for his 15th goal of the season, which gave the Islanders a 4-3 lead. A few minutes later, Scott Hartnell would score his 28th goal of the season to tie the game, and force overtime.

In the shootout, Tavares would score on the first attempt to give the Islanders the lead, but two successful attempts by Wennberg and Atkinson would give the Blue Jackets the victory.

Next up for the Islanders will be the first-round of the NHL playoffs on the road against the Washington Capitals.

Next: Was John Tavares the best athlete in New York last season?

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