The Islanders had a chance to extend their winning streak through the first three games of the season. They had a chance to move ahead of the Rangers into the Eastern Conference’s second wild card spot and have more points than their rivals for the first time since December 11, 2022. They had a chance to climb above NHL.500 for the first time since November 14th.

And against the Kings, one of the NHL’s stronger teams, the Islanders had a chance to show that they can be a real contender after an inconsistent, injury-plagued start.

It was all there as the Islanders pushed the game forward in the third period. However, they failed to equalize, despite defenders Noah Dobson and Bo Horvat hitting shots on the post, and lost 3-1 at the UBS Arena on Tuesday night.

An acrobatic and assured Ilya Sorokin made 28 saves for the Islanders (11-12-7), who went 0-for-3 on the power play after going 2-2 in Sunday’s 4-2 win in Ottawa. Defenseman Mikey Anderson scored the game-winning goal with an unanswered goal.

The Kings (17-8-3), who have rattled off six straight wins to start their seven-game road trip, had Darcy Kuemper saved 19 times.

In Sunday’s win in Ottawa, the Islanders led 12-5 in the first period but led 2-1 with Anders Lee scoring on the power play.

On Tuesday, the Kings had a 12-3 lead after the first 20 minutes and led 1-0 despite the Islanders’ only two power plays of the period. The Islanders only managed one shot in the first period at five-on-five as they deflected passes and couldn’t maintain time in the offensive zone.

Adrian Kempe scored the first goal at 13:51 of the first period, getting behind Maxim Tsyplakov and directing Anze Kopitar’s shot from behind the goal crease onto the post.

Not even defenseman Alexander Romanov’s stunning check on Alex Laferriere, which caused defenseman Kyle Burroughs to commit unsportsmanlike conduct while tackling Romanov at 5:06, didn’t get the Islanders’ game going.

However, this happened in the second period when the Islanders nearly matched their first period shot count in the first 58 seconds. Kevin Fiala extended the Kings’ lead to 2-0 at 3:09, Sorokin screened, but Lee, who received the puck from Kyle Palmieri and spun into the slot, halved the deficit at 9:47.

Coach Patrick Roy alternated his lines in the second period after Oliver Wahlstrom blocked defenseman Joel Edmundson’s shot and limped off the ice at 6:20. Wahlstrom returned later in the period, but rookie defenseman Isaiah George, who struggled with his puck handling in the first period, sat 12:22 into the final third of the second period and did not play in the third period for use.

Notes and quotes: Lee passed John Tavares to rank eighth on the Islanders’ all-time goals list with 273 goals. . . Top liner Anthony Duclair (lower body/long-term injured reserve), who has been out since Oct. 19, resumed skating with his teammates during Tuesday’s morning skate, wearing an orange non-contact jersey. Defenseman Adam Pelech (pine/injured reserve), who has been out since Nov. 1, continued to skate with his teammates and also wore a non-contact jersey. “It’s fun to see him and Pelly in that orange jersey,” Roy said. “It shows they’re doing well.” Still, Roy said there was no timeline for when either would be ready to play. . . Goalie Semyon Varlamov (lower body) missed his fourth game and Roy reported he has not yet resumed skating. Marcus Hogberg continued to support Ilya Sorokin. . . Defenseman Scott Mayfield was unavailable (due to illness). . . Forward Hudson Fasching remained a healthy scratch.

Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began covering the NHL in 2003 and previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.