Concerns are already mounting for the Islanders as they start 0-3

It’s only three games into the season, but the Islanders’ start is quickly becoming a concern.

They’re still searching for their first win, and didn’t come particularly close following Monday’s 5-2 loss to the Jets at UBS Arena.

An afternoon start time ensures the Islanders will be the first team in the NHL to start 0-3, and while that’s just a small part of the 82-game marathon, there’s plenty to worry about.

Alexander Romanov who was He handed an eight-year deal In the offseason, he struggled in all three games and was taken off the penalty kill in favor of Matthew Schaefer on Monday. Simon Holmstrom and Max Tsyplakov, both of whom the Islanders were counting on to take steps forward this season, both struggled and were unknowns in the regular season, making up two-thirds of the fourth line on Monday. Ilya Sorokin didn’t look like himself in net and gave up a terrible goal on Monday against Logan Stanley, with the puck flowing through his pad.

The Islanders have struggled to win battles around the blue paint on both ends of the ice, and they have started games poorly — giving up the first goal on all three goals — and leading a combined 1:37 out of 180:00.

All these problems came to light on Monday. After an encouraging first few minutes for the Islanders, Morgan Barron took the air out of UBS Arena by beating Romanov home off the rush to score on Cole Koepke’s pass. Nino Niederreiter made it 2-0 just a few minutes later with a power-play goal off a Gus Nyquist cross that came after the Islanders failed to clear the blue paint.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau appeared to restore some momentum for the Islanders with a goal early in the second period, but Stanley scored just 14 seconds later to preserve the Jets’ two-goal lead. Romanov messed up again on Winnipeg’s fourth goal, turning it over at the blue line before Tanner Pearson scored on Niederreiter’s pass on the ensuing intermission.

Emil Heinemann scored his first goal as an Islander to get one back before the second period ended, and a tough call by Mark Scheifele gave the Islanders a chance to start the third period with some momentum. But while the power play has reached the lowest levels of efficiency it often failed to surpass a year ago — the Islanders can consistently get past the blue line and set up — it was 0-for-5 on Monday and struggled to create high-danger chances.

The Islanders didn’t put up any serious pressure in the third period, and Mark Scheifele added a late empty-netter to make it 5-2 in the final.

While Scheffer’s individual brilliance has kept some positivity in the air, the No. 1 overall pick is arguably the only Islander to seriously exceed expectations.

The only other time the Islanders started a season with three straight losses was in 2006-07, the year they reached the playoffs, although it required a shootout victory on the final day of the season.

With the Oilers coming to Long Island to close out this homestand, the Isles face the very real possibility of starting 0-4 for the first time in their history, including three straight home losses.

Arguably what’s worse is that, with the exception of the opener in Pittsburgh and some sporadic outbursts since then, the Islanders haven’t looked particularly competitive.

Already, there is an increased sense of urgency, which is never a good thing after just three games.