The New York Islanders continue to struggle with third period leads. For the third time this week, the Isles watched what seemed to be a safe lead disappear late in the game. Last Saturday against Montreal, the Isles saw a 4-1 third period lead become a 5-4 loss. Monday, the Columbus Blue Jackets forced overtime after trailing 3-0 after 40 minutes. Thursday night in Atlanta, it was more of the same as the Thrashers overcame a 3-1 deficit after two periods to down the Islanders 4-3 in regulation.

After the game, Isles' Coach Scott Gordon told reporters, "There's a world of a difference when we play successful and when we don't. When we fail, we do the same things over and over again. It's very frustrating to throw away 40 minutes of solid hockey and throw away a lead. It happened for the wrong reasons."

"It’s disappointing," admitted Isles' goalie Joey MacDonald who made 23 saves on the night. "No lead is safe in the third period."

Slava Kozlov's second goal of the game got the Thrashers' comeback started just 29 seconds into the third period on a backhander from the bottom of the left circle. Just 48 seconds later, Jason Williams tipped home the rebound of a shot by Tobias Enstrom and the game was tied 3-3.

Atlanta took the lead for good at the 11:29 mark of the third period on Enstrom's slap shot from the top of the left circle. It was Enstrom's first goal of the season and his first since March 21 of last season. He finished the night with a goal and two assists.

After Jon Sim and Kozlov traded first period scores, the Islanders scored two quick goals just 17 seconds apart midway through the second period to take a 3-1 lead. Frans Nielsen put home the rebound of a shot by Trent Hunter which was loose to the right of the crease to put New York ahead 2-1. Then, Nielsen set up Hunter for the second goal with a beautiful pass from the corner. Hunter one-timed the puck over the shoulder of Atlanta goalie, Ondrej Pavelec to make it 3-1 Islanders, but once again, the club couldn't hold the lead.

The Thrashers were pleased they were able to win their second straight game. Coach John Anderson gave his club a strong speech during the second intermission and it paid off with the comeback victory. “He [Anderson] was very upset with the way we were working, and if we keep playing like that, we weren’t going to win," Kozlov said.

"It feels good to come here and smile two times in a row,” Anderson said, focusing on the positive outcome.

New York has been outscored 20-11 in the third period so far this season. Gordon and the Islanders were left with another frustrating finish. "Forget about the first two goals, we stopped skating. If you can't figure it out by now, what we do that gives us success is skating," said Gordon. "If we worry about what might transpire, we're a different team. We were not aggressive. It was a little bit of old habits. The fact that they play with caution when they get the green light is frustrating. Again, we beat ourselves."

The Islanders will host the Penguins on Saturday at the Nassau Coliseum while the Thrashers travel to Buffalo Friday night to take on the Sabres.

NOTES

Sean Bergenheim sat out his third consecutive game with a virus.

Former Islanders Ruslan Fedotenko and Miro Satan will return to the Coliseum for the first time on Saturday since signing as free agents with Pittsburgh this summer. Satan has six goals and 10 points in 12 games after scoring only 41 points in 80 games with the Islanders last season. Fedotenko has two goals and three points on the season in 11 games.

Kozlov has scored 12 goals and 31 points in 36 career games against the Islanders. Meanwhile, Hunter has scored eight times and has 15 points in 17 appearances against Atlanta.