WINNIPEG — A third-period flurry turned into Same Old Islanders.
The Islanders turned a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 edge with three scores in the opening 9:53 of the third period, only to give the lead back to the Jets and fall, 5-4, on Evander Kane’s goal 1:59 into overtime.
Kane, who also had an assist, tapped the puck in past goalie Evgeni Nabokov after a rebound from a long Olli Jokinen shot.
John Tavares had a goal and two assists for the Islanders (2-2-1), and David Ullstrom, Matt Moulson and Mark Streit also scored. Frans Nielsen had a pair of assists.
Dustin Byfuglien’s goal on the power play at 12:59 of the third period marked the first time this season the Islanders had allowed a power-play goal in 17 shorthanded situations.
Alexander Burmistrov’s goal 65 seconds later tied the game 4-4 in front of a sellout of 15,004 at MTS Centre.
Jets backup goalie Al Montoya got his first start of the season against his former team and stopped 21 shots. He signed as a free agent with Winnipeg last July.
He played two seasons with the Islanders, but got into only 31 games last season because of a concussion suffered after a December hit by Kane.
Nabokov stopped 30.
Alexei Ponikarovsky and Bryan Little also scored for the Jets (3-1-1), who have won three games in a row.
Tavares went on a breakaway 22 seconds into the third period and tallied his first goal of the season with a high shot past Montoya to make it 2-2.
Tavares got his assist when his long shot was redirected by Moulson for a 3-2 lead at 5:09. Streit made it 4-2 with a power-play marker at 9:53.
A turnover by the Jets led to the Islanders’ first goal, a wrist shot Ullstrom put past Montoya at 2:34 of the opening period. Ullstrom is on a four-game points streak with two goals and a pair of assists.
Winnipeg tied it up eight minutes later when Kyle Wellwood sent a pass across the front of the net to Ponikarovsky for his first goal with the Jets.
Little gave the Jets a 2-1 lead at 5:13 of the second period when he took a pass in front of the net from Nik Antropov and shot the puck under the stick of Nabokov.