For two periods, the Islanders seemed on their way to a second straight win on home ice. Goals from Casey Cizikas and Aaron Ness had them leading 2-0 over the Kings with one stanza left. However, Los Angeles rallied from a two-goal deficit by scoring three unanswered in the third to stun the Islanders 3-2 at Nassau Coliseum last night. Slava Voynov, Tanner Pearson and Tyler Toffoli scored for LA, who’s doing a mini-tour of the metropolitan area. They play the Devils tonight and the Rangers Sunday.

It was a disappointing result for the slumping Islanders, who lost for the fifth time in six. After a disastrous 0-4 road trip, they were hoping to build on a 3-1 win over Nashville. But couldn’t just hold on coughing up a two-goal lead.

”That was a big physical team,” Islander coach Jack Capuano said. ”I thought we played decently and well enough to win.

”You’re always frustrated when two points slip away. The big thing is how we respond. We have to find a way.”

At 7-10-3 tied with the Devils in points (17) despite playing two more games, they need to put together a good stretch. Thomas Vanek missed his third consecutive game with an “upper body injury.” Since acquiring him from Buffalo for Matt Moulson and two draft picks, things haven’t gone well. They’re 2-4-0 when he plays and 1-2-0 without him. That’s six losses in their last nine. It’s no wonder they’re looking up in the suddenly tightening Metro. The Pens have dropped three straight and still lead the division but only by a point over Washington. The Rangers and Hurricanes are tied with 18 points four back. Then come the Isles and Devils, who are both five out. The surging Flyers have won three straight suddenly up to 15 points including a 2-1 win Wednesday at Pittsburgh. With an overtime loss yesterday, Columbus sits last with 14. Eight points separates the entire division.

“It wasn’t turnovers, it wasn’t puck management, it was just the situation,” Capuano assessed after seeing his team allow a Toffoli tip to squeak past Kevin Poulin with 1:27 left. “They got some shots to the net. We knew they’d shoot the puck and crash and that’s how they got the game-winning goal.”

They’ve led in seven of their 13 defeats. That also included 2-0 leads to Columbus and Vancouver. Being able to protect leads is a necessity in the NHL. The Isles learned how to do it late last year making the playoffs. It hasn’t helped that scoring has dried up. After top three scorers John Tavares, Frans Nielsen and Kyle Okposo, there’s a big drop off. Moulson is still listed as the fourth scorer. Josh Bailey is stuck on eight points since Oct. 25. Michael Grabner doesn’t have a point since Oct. 17. The lack of depth is hurting them on the blueline too with Lubomir Visnovsky still out with a concussion. They’ve missed him.

With Evgeni Nabokov struggling in net, Poulin has gotten the last two starts. For the season, he’s 2-5-0 with a 2.45 GAA and .914 save percentage. Nabokov is 5-5-3 with a 3.24 GAA and .894 save percentage having allowed 10 goals in his last two starts. He’s allowed four or more five times including the last three. 

It’s a combination of things for a team that needs to right the ship. Detroit visits tomorrow. Then the Isles go on the road for three with stops in Toronto, Pittsburgh and Philly before returning home Nov. 27 against Winnipeg for a four-game home stand. It won’t get any easier.