Recap: Isles Fall To Flames 3-1

For the second time in a week, the New York Islanders couldn't find a way to cool off the red-hot Calgary Flames, falling 3-1 at NYCB Live.
Josh Bailey scored for the Islanders, but Matthew Tkachuk, Mikael Backlund and Rasmus Andersson scored for the Flames, who turned a 1-1 tie into a 3-1 lead with a pair of goals in the opening 5:12 of the third period.
"Obviously the next one is pretty important when you're tied going into the third and you get a bit of a backbreaker when they get the third one," Bailey said. "It's tough to get out of a two-goal deficit in the third and it wasn't our night."
With the loss, the Islanders fall to 0-2-0 against the Flames this season. Calgary won it's sixth straight game.
BOXSCORE

FLAMES PUSH PAST ISLES IN THIRD PERIOD:
The Calgary Flames came into Tuesday's contest with a +42 third period goal differential, so with the score tied 1-1, the Islanders knew the margin for error was slim.
The Flames lived up to their third period billing, scoring a pair of goals 1:57 apart to take a 3-1 lead. First Backlund snapped a shot blocker side on Robin Lehner (24 saves) at 3:15, while a failed clear turned into an Andersson point shot that eluded the Isles goalie at 5:12.
Lehner told reporters he felt the third goal - a low slapper from Andersson - took some of the energy out of his team. To his credit, the goalie called out what he perceived as his own mistake and took responsibility for it after the game.
"I felt like I played a really, really good game, and then I let in a [bad] goal," Lehner said. "It doesn't happen often and it kind of took the power out of our team a little bit. I take responsibility for that... They scored that 2-1 goal and then I let that one up and it kind of kills us. That's on me, but this is nothing to panic over."
Armed with a lead the Flames held the Isles at bay the rest of the way. Adam Pelech had the Islanders best chance of the final frame, but his point-blank chance was robbed by Mike Smith (26 saves) with 1:30 to play.
The two teams played an otherwise tight game on Tuesday. After playing to a scoreless first period, Tkachuk opened the scoring at 2:57 of the second period. It was a highlight reel goal, as Tkachuk pulled off a between-the-legs shot while battling in front of the net and beat Lehner for a power-play goal.
The Islanders were being outshot 15-6 early in the second period, but tied the score after Bailey kept and shot on a two-on-one rush with Valtteri Filppula. Bailey's 14th goal of the season sparked the Isles, who pressed for nine straight shots, including seven on the ensuing power play, but could not beat Smith.

HICKEY AND LADD RETURN:
Thomas Hickey and Andrew Ladd both returned to the lineup after missing the past several months with respective injuries.
Ladd recorded an assist in his first game since Nov. 13, playing 12:52 TOI largely on a line with Mathew Barzal and Leo Komarov. Hickey played 14:48 TOI with a hit and two blocks, playing the left side with Devon Toews.
"I thought both of them actually played pretty well," Trotz said. "You can tell that there's a little bit of rust, mostly puck stuff, but I thought both of them, for the first game served a real good game up against a very tough opponent."
SPECIAL TEAMS:
The Islanders power play went 0-for-4, while the penalty kill went 4-for-5, including killing off a 1:30 five-on-three at the end of the second period.
NEXT GAME:
The Islanders take on the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday night at NYCB Live. Puck drop is at 7 p.m.