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Final Score: Calgary 2 - NY Islanders 3

Uniondale, NY (Sports Network) - Bruno Gervais scored the go-ahead goal in the third period, and the New York Islanders held on to beat Calgary, 3-2, dealing the Flames' playoff hopes a serious blow.

Calgary entered Thursday's contest four points behind idle Detroit for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, but failed to pick up ground despite holding a lead entering the third period.

Matt Moulson and Trent Hunter also scored for the Islanders, who had been shut out in their last two games and had lost three in a row overall. Martin Biron made 21 saves, including 12 in the final period.

"It's easy to say, 'Let's get up for this game and let's respond right.' But you play the game, you never know if you're going to be sluggish or if you're going to be right," Biron said. "I think that to be able to slowly pick away at it, that was a great feeling."

Nigel Dawes and Eric Nystrom had the goals for the Flames, who opened a three- game road trip that also takes them to Boston and Washington. Miikka Kiprusoff allowed all three goals on 22 shots in the loss.

"This one, we feel, got away from us," said Calgary's Jarome Iginla. "And it hurts, it's a tough one, but nobody's giving up."

Calgary led 2-1 heading into the third period, but the Islanders evened the game only 28 seconds into the frame. New York defenseman Mark Streit had his point shot saved, but Moulson spotted the loose puck to the left of the crease and quickly wristed it into the open net.

Gervais then put the Islanders in front, 3-2, with 8:29 left in regulation. Biron helped New York hold on down the stretch, making a series of saves in the final minutes after Calgary emptied its net.

The Islanders got on the board first thanks to an interesting shot from Hunter. After the forward got the puck to the left of the crease, he banked it off the side of Kiprusoff's mask before it headed into the net at 8:23.

However, Dawes answered just 50 seconds later to make it a 1-1 game heading into the first intermission.

In the late stages of the second period, the Flames' Jamal Mayers was squeezed into the end boards while skating with the puck in the attacking zone, then fell to the ice. However, he managed to swipe the puck out front for Nystrom, who put it past Biron with 6:52 remaining.

In the last minute of the second period, Biron left his net to make a poke check on Rene Bourque's breakaway, keeping it a 2-1 game going into the second intermission.