GLENDALE, Ariz. _ The New York Islanders rallied for a point but left here disappointed with a 3-2 overtime loss to the league-worst Arizona Coyotes on Nick Cousins' second goal of the game at 2:21 of overtime on Monday night.
The Isles pulled even 2:53 of the third thanks to an overwhelming shift by Mathew Barzal's line. It ended when Antti Raanta turned aside Thomas Hickey's shot right to Anthony Beauvillier, who snapped the puck over the Coyotes goaltender for Beauvillier's second goal of the night, eighth in seven games and 12th on the season.
The Isles put some urgency in their game the rest of the third, thwarted by Raanta on a couple good chances as the game went to overtime.
The Coyotes are headed to a sixth straight trip to the draft lottery and likely with the best chance at the No. 1 overall pick. But they have a hold on the Islanders out here, having won six of the past seven meetings between the teams in Arizona _ and the Islanders have scored one goal or been shut out in four of those games.
The Isles had a single goal once again on Monday through two periods, courtesy of Beauvillier's strong individual effort. He raced off the bench to replace Anders Lee, who had broken his stick. During that exchange in the opening half-minute of the second period, the Isles were playing four on five and Halak had to make two alert stops.
Josh Bailey grabbed the puck off the second save and led Beauvillier down the ice. His initial shot was stopped but Raanta left the rebound behind him. Beauvillier pounced and tucked it home as he circled the net for his 11th of the season at 34 seconds.
The Islanders got frustrated with referee Marc Joannette, who missed a clear high stick by Clayton Keller on Scott Mayfield behind the Islander net. Mayfield appeared to lose a tooth from the stick but play continued and the Coyotes nearly broke the tie before Mayfield tripped Keller and drew a minor.
Mayfield expressed his displeasure with Joannette and had to go to the dressing room for repairs rather than serve his penalty, which the Isles killed off. But Arizona took the lead back at 9:52 of the second, when Brendan Perlini tipped Luke Schenn's shot past Halak.
The Islanders had a couple good shifts to open the game but not enough pucks on Raanta. The Coyotes turned the tide by the four-minute mark and threw lots of shots on Halak, with one rather soft one by Nick Cousins eluding Halak at 12:20.
