In a game where the Jets never had the lead, they nevertheless battled back on every New York goal, but still came up short falling to the Islanders 5-4.
For the second time on this road trip, the Jets fell behind 2-0, but rallied back to tie it up on goals by Tobias Enstrom and Andrew Ladd. For Ladd, that was his fourth goal in four games. Kyle Okposo put New York up 3-2, before Zach Bogosian scored on a nice play from Chris Thorburn to tie it up again.
Even though a very questionable penalty shot was called on Dustin Bufuglien and Okposo capitalized with a low stick-side shot on Chris Mason for his second of the game, Bufuglien made up for it just 34 seconds later with a blast from the blue line that cleanly beat Islander goalie Al Montoya. It was Bufuglien's second goal of the game. That made it 4-4.
Just as it looked as though the Jets would be in their fourth straight overtime game, Michael Grabner potted the winner with a tip off of a Travis Hamonic point shot with just 44 seconds left.
Even though, the Jets didn't play terrible, coach Claude Noel wasn't accepting any excuses for the loss, saying "You're a professional. This is the profession you've chosen. Show up on time...do your job." After watching this game against one of the lower-end teams in the league, I have to say I concur. This is a team the Jets should have beaten.
The Jets wrap up the 2011-2012 season at home on Saturday in the friendly confines of the MTS Centre against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
A disappointed Claude Noel
