The Skinny: Islanders 4, Rangers 3

Eric Hornick / NewYorkIslanders.com


The Skinny - Game 42
Isles 4, Rangers 3

The Rangers outshot the Isles 17-1 in the third period, but Josh Bailey made the Isles' shot count as the Isles defeated the Rangers 4-3 at Madison Square Garden before a near-capacity crowd of 17,938.

Bailey's winning goal was the only one that Mathew Barzal (1-2-3) wasn't involved in; Barzal now has 14 points in his first seven career games against the Rangers.

Robin Lehner made 16 saves in the third period to become the fourth goalie in Islander history to record eight straight wins. 

The Isles are 10-2-0 in their last twelve games; they have won five straight road games. The teams will complete the home-and-home at Barclays Center on Saturday afternoon.

The Scoring: 
1st Period
Ryan Strome (6) Jimmy Vesey, Filip Chytil 01:38 NYI 0,NYR 1 PPG
Mathew Barzal (13) Johnny Boychuk 02:31 NYI 1,NYR 1
Jordan Eberle (9) Anders Lee, Mathew Barzal 08:51 NYI 2,NYR 1 PPG

2nd Period
Kevin Shattenkirk (2) Fredrik Claesson 01:11 NYI 2,NYR 2
Anders Lee (16) Nick Leddy, Mathew Barzal 03:08 NYI 3,NYR 2 PPG

3rd Period
Jesper Fast (7) Neal Pionk, Pavel Buchnevich 08:40 NYI 3,NYR 3
Josh Bailey (9) Cal Clutterbuck, Johnny Boychuk 18:34 NYI 4,NYR 3

The Skinny 
One game after having a goal reversed by an offside challenge, Jordan Eberle scored his 9th goal of the season…Mathew Barzal now has 126 points in 126 career NHL games…The Isles are now eight points ahead of last season's pace through 42 games; including shootout winners they have scored 13 fewer goals and allowed 40 fewer goals than last year's first 42 games… With the win the Isles regain the top wild card spot; they remain in 4th place in the Metro, just one point behind Columbus… Captain Anders Lee recorded his 17th assist of the season on the Eberle goal. It was the 100th assist of Lee's career; Lee had career highs in both goals (40) and assists (22) last season…The Isles have won only 55% of the games they scored first (12-6-4); they have won 60% of the games they allowed the opening goal (12-8-0)…Matt Martin finished with eight hits, increasing his team-leading total to 136. It was the sixth time this season that Martin has had at least eight hits (five times in Divisional Games)…The Isles now have 29 points on the road and 23 points at home. Of the top four teams in the Metro, only Pittsburgh has more points on home ice than on the road…Kevin Shattenkirk scored for the first time in 20 games…Devon Toews saw his three-game point streak end… The Isles scored two power play goals for the third time this season (twice against the Rangers); both teams have scored four power play goals in the season series… The Isles (12-8-0) are one of three teams to have won more than half of the games they allowed the opening goal [Tampa Bay (16-6-0) and Winnipeg (13-9-0) are the others…The Isles have now earned 29 points in 23 road games this season; it's only the second time in the post-Cup era that they have had 29 points in the first 23 on the road. They had only 29 points in the first 33 road games last season…The Isles improve to 19-4-3 when they are outshot. The 19 wins lead the entire NHL when outshot…

First Time Ever
The Isles are 6-0-0 this season when they are held to 20 shots or less; it's the first time in Islander history that they have won six straight games when held to 20 shot or less.

Just Sid and The Kid (who won the Calder)
Mathew Barzal now has 14 career points against the Rangers in seven games, including three games with at least three points. Barzal and Sidney Crosby are the only players in the last 30 years to record at least three points in three games against the Rangers prior to his 22nd birthday.

Most 3+ Point Games by an Islander Before Age 22 (h/t NHL.com)
•   34 Bryan Trottier
•   18 John Tavares
•   16 Denis Potvin
•   14 Mike Bossy
•   12 Mathew Barzal
•   12 Pat LaFontaine

Streaking Lehner
Robin Lehner has won a career-high eight straight decisions. Lehner has allowed only 16 goals in his last 11 games (8-1-2, 1.50 GAA, .947 save percentage). 

Lehner is the 4th Goalie in Isles history to record at least eight straight wins:
11: Jaroslav Halak (Nov-Dec 2004)
10: Billy Smith (Jan-Feb 1982)
8: ROBIN LEHNER (CURRENT)
8: Mark Fitzpatrick (Dec 89-Jan 90)

USA Hockey
Anders Lee's goal was the 140th goal of his career. He has broken a tie with Kyle Okposo for 2nd on the Islander goal-scoring list among American-born players, trailing only Pat LaFontaine (287).

Most Points Thru 42 Games (Post-Cup Era)
•   57: 2014-15
•   52: 2018-19

Most Points Thru 23 Road Games (Post-Cup Era)
•   31: 2013
•   29: 2018-19

Road Warriors
The Isles have won five straight games on the road; it's their longest road winning streak since a 7-game streak in the 2013-14 season.

The Isles are 8-1-0 in their last nine road games; the 16 points match the most ever for the club in a 9-game stretch of road games (done also in 1980-81, 1981-82 and 2013-14).

Worst to First
The Isles allowed the most goals in the NHL last season. Here's where they are this season:

Fewest Goals Allowed This Season (Including SO goals)
1.   ISLES 114
2.   Boston 114
3.   Nashville 116

Fewest Goals Allowed This Season (excluding SO goals)
1.   ISLES 111
2.   Boston 114
3.   Nashville 115

Last 30 Seasons: Most Goals by an Islander Before 22nd Birthday:
1.   John Tavares 84
2.   Anthony Beauvillier 41
Beauvillier's 22nd birthday is not until June.

Last 30 Seasons: Most Assists and Points by an Islander Before 22nd Birthday:
1.   John Tavares 118 assists, 202 points
2.   Mathew Barzal 91 assists, 126 points
Barzal's 22nd birthday is not until May.

Coach Trotz
Among active coaches, Barry Trotz has coached the most games and is 2nd to Ken Hitchcock in wins. Trotz' NHL record is 786-582-60-138 in 1,566 games.

Most Coaching Wins
1.   Scotty Bowman 1,244
2.   Joel Quenneville 890
3.   Ken Hitchcock   835
4.   Barry Trotz   786
5.   Al Arbour   782

Most Games Coached
1.   Scotty Bowman 2,141
2.   Joel Quenneville 1,636
3.   Al Arbour   1,607
4.   Barry Trotz   1,566
5.   Ken Hitchcock   1,560

Trotz will catch Al Arbour in games coached on Opening Night next season. If Quenneville doesn't return to coaching Trotz would pass him sometime in December 2019.

This Season vs. Last Season
This Season: 24-14-4 (52 points), with 128 goals scored and 114 goals allowed (includes SO winners)
Last Season: 20-18-4 (44 points), with 141 goals scored and 154 goals allowed (includes SO winners)

First Things First   
The Isles are 12-6-4 when scoring first and are 12-8-0 when allowing the opening goal. The Isles won 12 games all last season (12-27-5) when allowing the opening goal.

The Shots
Isles 10-9-1=20
Rangers 8-5-17=30
The Isles are 5-9-1 when they outshoot their opponents, 0-1-0 when the shots are even and 19-4-3 when they are outshot. [The club record for wins when being outshot is 25, set in 1983-84 and equaled last season.]

Home and Road
The Islanders are 24-14-4 overall; 10-6-3 at home (3-1-1 on Long Island and 7-5-2 in Brooklyn) and 14-8-1 on the road. The Isles will play 21 games in Uniondale and 20 games in Brooklyn this season.

The Rangers are 17-19-7 overall; 11-6-5 at home and 6-13-2 on the road. 

By Division & Conference
The Isles are 11-4-1 in Division games and 13-10-3 in games versus other divisions. The Isles are 16-6-4 against the East and 8-8-0 against the West. 

In the Nets
Robin Lehner made 27 saves and improves to 12-6-3 on the season and 3-5-2 in his career against the Rangers.  

Henrik Lundqvist made 16 saves but falls to 12-12-7 on the season and 30-21-7 in his career against the Isles. He is 1-9-2 in his last 12 decisions against the Isles.

Power Plays
The Isles were 2-3 on the power play in 4:12 of PP time; the Rangers were 1-3 on the power play in 4:27 of PP time (including a :54 5-on-3 in the third period).

The Isles are 16-1-1 when they score at least one power play goal and 8-13-3 when they do not. The Isles are 10-10-3 when they allow at least one power play goal and 13-4-1 when they do not. 

Three is a Magic Number
The Isles are 22-2-1 when they score at least three goals (including shootout winners) and are 2-12-3 when they do not. 

One Goal Games
The Isles are 10-3-4 in games decided by a single goal including 5-3 in regulation. They are 3-1 in games decided in overtime and are 2-3 in shootouts. The Isles are 3-4 in games in which an empty-net goal turns a 1-goal game into a 2-goal game.

Back-to-Backs
The Isles are 4-1-0 in the front half and 5-0-0 in the back half. The next back-to-back is January 12th vs. the Rangers and January 13th vs. Tampa Bay.

Tired vs. Rested
•   The Isles are 2-0-0 when both teams played the night before.
•   The Isles are 2-0-1 when they are rested, and their opponents are not.
•   The Isles are 4-0-0 when their opponents are rested, and the Isles are not.
•   The Isles are 16-14-3 when both teams are rested.

Ice-time Leaders
Isles: Nick Leddy (22:00); Rangers: Kevin Shattenkirk (24:00)
Brock Nelson led Isles forwards with 18:05 of ice-time.

Isles record by ice-time leader: Ryan Pulock (13-6-3), Nick Leddy (7-7-1), Scott Mayfield (4-1-0).

Face-offs
Isles 35,Rangers 24 (59%). 

Josh Bailey won 6 of 8 for the Isles; Brett Howden won 5 of 9 for the Rangers.
Face-offs by period: 1st period 16/27; 2nd period 7/12; 3rd period 12/20.
Face-offs by strength: Even strength: 29/51, Power play 2/3, Penalty kill 4/5.

Hit Count
Isles 36 (Matt Martin - 8) 
Rangers 37 (Jesper Fast- 6)

Fights
Matt Martin fought Cody McLeod in the first period. Season total -12 (Scott Mayfield -4, Ross Johnston-3, Matt Martin -2, Josh Bailey, Johnny Boychuk, Anders Lee). 

Martin (88) and McLeod (158) have had more fights than any other active NHL players.

Blocked Shots
The Isles blocked 20 shots (Scott Mayfield -4)

For the Corsi Crowd
All situations: Isles 42, Rangers 64 (including 37-6 in the Rangers' favor in the 3rd period)
5-on-5 Isles 33, Rangers 48

5-on-5 leaders:
Isles: Cal Clutterbuck +5
Rangers: Frederik Claesson +12

Night and Day
The Isles are 21-13-4 in night games and 3-1-0 in matinees. The next matinee is on January 12th vs. the Rangers.

Ironmen
Anders Lee 160, Brock Nelson 137, Mathew Barzal 124

Scratches
(Andrew Ladd - IR), (Thomas Hickey- IR),Tom Kuhnhackl, Michael Dal Colle, Luca Sbisa
Total games lost: 85

Late Heroes
The Isles have scored once in the final two minutes of regulation to either tie or take the lead:
1/11- NY Rangers -Josh Bailey scored the winning goal (18:34)

Late Goals Allowed
The Isles have allowed a goal four times in the final two minutes of regulation to either tie or win a game:
10/4 - CAR Hurricanes - Jordan Staal tied game (18:25), but Isles won in overtime.
11/8 - TB Lightning - Tyler Johnson scored the winning goal (18:34)
11/23 - NJ Devils - Marcus Johansson tied game (19:49), but Isles won in overtime.
12/15- DET Red Wings - Thomas Vanek tied game (18:57), but Isles won in a shootout.

Offside Challenges
12/8 vs DET Red Wings - Red Wings goal overturned after successful Isles challenge.
12/20 vs VEG Golden Knights - Golden Knights goal overturned after successful Isles challenge.
1/8 vs CAR Hurricanes - Isles goal overturned after successful Hurricane challenge

Comeback Kids
The Isles are 5-3-0 when trailing in a game by a 2-0 score, defeating NYR (11/15), CBJ (12/1), DET (12/8),OTT (12.28) and STL (1/5); all five wins have been in regulation.

The Isles are 8-1-1 when scoring the game's first two goals.

All-time Islander Leader Boards:

Games Played (skaters)
1.   Bryan Trottier 1123 *** 2. Denis Potvin 1060 *** 3. Bob Nystrom 900 *** 4. Clark Gillies 872 ***
5. Bob Bourne 814***6. Josh Bailey 757

Goals
1.   Mike Bossy 573 *** 2. Bryan Trottier 500 *** 3. Denis Potvin 310 …
16. Mariusz Czerkawski 145 *** 17. Anders Lee 140 *** 18. Kyle Okposo 139 ***19. Josh Bailey 133…
24. Mark Parrish, Matt Moulson and Steve Thomas 118 *** 27. Ray Ferraro 116 *** 28. Brock Nelson 114

Assists
1.   Bryan Trottier 853 *** 2. Denis Potvin 742 *** 3. Mike Bossy 553…
12. Pat LaFontaine 279 *** 13. Bobby Nystrom 278 *** 14. Josh Bailey 276

Points
1.   Bryan Trottier 1353 *** 2. Mike Bossy 1126 *** 3. Denis Potvin 1052…
12. Patrick Flatley 488 *** 13. Billy Harris 443 *** 14. Josh Bailey 409

Games Played (Goalies)
1.   Billy Smith 674 *** 2. Rick DiPietro 318 *** 3. Glenn Resch 282 …
7. Glenn Healy 176 *** 8. Thomas Greiss 143

Wins (Goalie)
1.   Billy Smith 304 *** 2. Glenn Resch 157 *** 3. Rick DiPietro 130*** 4. Kelly Hrudey 108***
5. Jaroslav Halak 88 *** 6. Rollie Melanson 77*** 7. Thomas Greiss 74

Season Series Stats
The Isles lead the season series two games to one (and 4 points to 2).  

The Isles are 9-1-0 in the last 10 games against the Rangers and are 13-2-0 in the last 15 match-ups.

On the Farm
Bridgeport is winless in their last three games, but they still have a 21-11-4-2 record for the season.

Rookie Otto Koivula leads all current Sound Tigers with 25 points on the season; he is also tied-5th among all AHL rookies in points.

The Sound Tigers return to Upstate New York to face the Utica Comets on Friday.

Leaders: Goals: Michael Dal Colle 16 ; Assists: Sebastian Aho 21; Points: Dal Colle 28. Goalies: Jeremy Smith 11-6-2 (2.70 GAA); Christopher Gibson 10-5-4 (3.06 GAA)

Up Next
SATURDAY, JANUARY 12th - RANGERS AT ISLANDERS AT BARCLAYS CENTER 1:00PM
[MSG+2(Pre-game at 12:30pm), WFAN 660/101.9FM, 88.7 WRHU-FM,WRCN 103.9FM, Radio.com]

The Isles and Rangers will complete their season series with the back-end of this home-and-home series on Saturday afternoon at Barclays Center. beginning Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.

This will be the eighth meeting between the teams in Brooklyn, and the Isles have won the first seven, outscoring the Rangers 25-12 (including one shootout winner). The seven-game home winning streak is the Isles' longest against the Rangers since they beat them eight straight times at the Coliseum in 1991 and 1992.

Eric Hornick has been the statistician on Islander home game telecasts since 1982. Information contained in "The Skinny" has been gathered from various sources. Follow Eric @ehornick on Twitter & on his blog www.nyiskinny.com.

Recap: Bailey Bails Out Isles In Late Win Over Rangers

Cory Wright / NewYorkIslanders.com

Josh Bailey broke a 3-3 tie with 1:26 to play in the third period, as the New York Islanders beat the New York Rangers 4-3 on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.

Bailey's go-ahead goal was the Islanders first - and only - shot of the third period, but the opportunistic Isles made it count. The one shot - set up by a slick cross-ice from Cal Clutterbuck - was enough to secure two points and help the Isles to their seventh win in eight games.

"It obviously wasn't our best period, but it's about finding ways to win," Bailey said. "Just because you're not playing your best doesn't mean the game has to be thrown away. We know if we stick with it here we might be able to find a way."

Mathew Barzal had a game-high three points (1G, 2A), while Jordan Eberle and Anders Lee each scored power-play goals. Robin Lehner (27 saves) picked up a career-high eighth straight win.

BROADWAY BARZAL:

Mathew Barzal continued his mastery over the New York Rangers.

Barzal recorded three points (1G, 2A) on Thursday night upping his career totals to 14 points (4G, 10A) in seven games against the Blueshirts.

It was Barzal who evened the score 1-1 after Ryan Strome gave the Rangers an early lead 1:38 into the game. Barzal answered quickly, opening up Henrik Lundqvist on a partial breakaway before sliding home his 13th of the season at 2:31.

Barzal picked up two more points before the night was done, recording the secondary assist on both Eberle's goal to make it 2-1 in the first and on Lee's deflection to make it 3-2 in the second.

"He played the right way. He had the puck all night and lots of legs and all that," Trotz said. "His line was really good. You look at the scoresheet, you could see his line and linemates, that's where all the points are."

SPECIAL TEAMS KEY WIN:

Barry Trotz credited his special teams with the win on Thursday night, as the Isles rode their power play and a key penalty kill to the victory over the Rangers.

After struggling to produce in the previous four games, the Islanders power play scored on their first two opportunities Thursday, ultimately finishing the night 2-for-3. The first two power plays looked crisp, with the Isles moving the puck well around the zone while creating traffic in front.

Eberle scored his ninth of the season to put the Isles up 2-1 in the first period, snapping a cross-ice feed past Henrik Lundqvist at 8:51, while Lee deflected a Nick Leddy point shot at 3:08 of the second.

The Islanders penalty kill may have given up an early goal, but held the fort during a critical juncture in the third period. With Adam Pelech and Leo Komarov in the box, the Isles shorthanded unit killed off the Rangers' two-man advantage, holding the Blueshirts without a shot.

"To me we won the game on special teams," Trotz said. "We won it on the power play and a huge penalty kill five-on-three when the game was on the line. Robin played well for us and we found a way in the third period."

ONE SHOT, ONE GOAL IN THE THIRD:

The Islanders were outshot 17-1 in the third period of Thursday's win, but despite jokes about a perfect 1.000 shooting percentage, the Isles acknowledged it was not a sustainable way to win.

"It was pretty ugly on our part. We all know that. Our coaches know that," Barzal said. "But hey, Clutter [Cal Clutterbuck] makes a good play there to Bails [Josh Bailey] and we have an opportunistic team."

The Isles relied a lot on Lehner, who stopped 16 of 17 shots in a busy final frame. The lone shot to beat the Isles goaltender was a fluky play where Jesper Fast whacked a puck out of the air, off the ice and up high.

"With them travelling a lot lately, we should have had that push in the third and it felt like we couldn't get out of our zone, so we definitely have to tune some things up," Lehner said. "Obviously it wasn't a good game from us and we need to play better, but still, to squeeze out a win in this building-we have to take some positives away from that."

JOHNSTON IN, DAL COLLE OUT:

Ross Johnston drew back into the lineup for Michael Dal Colle, playing his first game since Dec. 28. Trotz said he wanted Johnston in the lineup, as he anticipated some rough stuff from the Rangers, though it wound up being Matt Martin who dropped the gloves with Cody McLeod.

NEXT GAME:

The teams reconvene on Saturday afternoon at Barclays Center. Puck drop is at 1 p.m.

Game Preview: Islanders at Rangers

Cory Wright / NYIslanders.com

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (23-14-4) AT NEW YORK RANGERS (17-18-7)

7 PM | MADISON SQUARE GARDEN

WATCH: MSG+2, MSG, MSG GO, NHL.TV

LISTEN: 660AM/101.9FM WFAN | 88.7FM WRHU | 103.9FM LI NEWS | RADIO.COM/ISLANDERS


SEASON SERIES: SERIES TIED 1-1-0

The home team has won each of the first two meetings between the Islanders and Rangers this season. The Islanders won the first meeting 7-5 at Barclays Center on Nov. 15, while the Rangers won the rematch 5-0 on Nov. 21.

ISLANDERS NOTES:

-   The Islanders six-game winning streak was snapped on Tuesday night against Carolina. The Isles are looking to get back on track on Thursday.

-   Thursday's game kicks off a home-and-home set against the Rangers, with the two teams meeting again on Saturday afternoon at Barclays Center. These are the final two meetings of the season between the crosstown rivals.

-   The Islanders (50 points) are one point back of the Montreal Canadiens (51 points) for the second wild card berth, and one point back of the Columbus Blue Jackets (51 points) for third in the Metropolitan Division.

-   Robin Lehner is currently on a career-high, seven-game winning streak. Lehner has allowed only 13 goals in his last 10 games (7-1-2, 1.34 GAA, .952 save percentage).

-   The Islanders power play is 1-for-9 over the team's past four games.

-   Brock Nelson has six points (3G, 3A) in his last five games, including a three-point night on Tuesday vs Carolina.

-   Mathew Barzal has 11 points (3G, 8A) in six career games vs the Rangers. Anthony Beauvillier has 12 points (6G, 6A) in eight games vs the Rangers.

RANGERS NOTES:

-   The Rangers have lost four straight games by a combined score of 22-5. Overall the Rangers are 3-5-2 in their last 10 games.

-   Mika Zibanejad leads the Rangers with 35 points (12G, 23A) in 42 games this season. Zibanejad and Kevin Hayes are tied for the team lead in assists (23).

-   Henrik Lundqvist was pulled in each of his last two starts after allowing six and five goals, respectively. Lundqvist, the Rangers all-star representative, is 12-11-7 this season with a 3.04 GAA and a .909 SV%.

-   The Rangers (41 points) are 10 points back of a playoff spot, while also trailing behind the Florida Panthers (41 points), Carolina Hurricanes (45 points) and the Islanders (50 points).

-   The Rangers are 1-1-5 on home ice since the start of December.

Isles Day to Day: Filppula Activated, Ho-Sang to Bridgeport

Cory Wright / NYIslanders.com

Valtteri Filppula was activated off injured reserve on Tuesday afternoon, clearing the way for a possible return to action against the Carolina Hurricanes. Filppula is officially a game-time decision per Head Coach Barry Trotz.

The Islanders center missed two games with an upper-body, suffered on Dec. 31 against the Buffalo Sabres. Filppula has 19 points (9G, 10A) in 38 games this season.

In a corresponding move, Josh Ho-Sang was loaned to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Ho-Sang was recalled by the Islanders on Dec. 9 and played 10 games with the team. The 22-year-old scored his first goal of the season on Dec. 18 against Arizona.

Ho-Sang had 22 points (2G, 20A) in 26 games with the Sound Tigers this season.

Game Preview: Islanders vs Hurricanes

Cory Wright / NYIslanders.com


NEW YORK ISLANDERS (23-13-4) VS CAROLINA HURRICANES (19-17-5)

7 PM | NYCB LIVE | BUY TICKETS

WATCH: MSG+ | MSG GO | NHL.TV

LISTEN: 88.7FM WRHU | 103.9FM LI NEWS | RADIO.COM/ISLANDERS
 

SEASON SERIES: NYI LEAD 3-0-0

The Islanders are 3-0-0 against the Carolina Hurricanes this season and are looking for a season sweep for their Metropolitan Division rivals. The Isles have held the Canes to one goal in all three wins, out-scoring Carolina 8-3, despite being outshot 112-59. The Islanders have won seven of their last nine games against the Hurricanes.

ISLANDERS NOTES:

-   The Islanders have won a season-high six straight games - tied for the longest active streak in NHL - and nine of their last 10 games overall. The Islanders are looking for their first seven-game winning streak since the 1989-90 season.

-   The Islanders (50 points) enter Tuesday's game in a playoff position, occupying the first wild card berth in the Eastern Conference. The Islanders are one point back of the Columbus Blue Jackets (51 points), two back of the Pittsburgh Penguins (52) and four back of the Metropolitan Division-leading Washington Capitals (54).

"We just want to keep going here," Robin Lehner said. "We look at the standings, we keep climbing and I think we're in a good position. It's incredibly close, so every game is going to matter. We can't take our foot off the gas, we have to keep going."

-   Robin Lehner was named the NHL's third star of the week on Monday after posting a 3-0-0 record with a 1.99 goals-against average and a .935 save percentage. Overall, Lehner has won a career-high seven straight games.

"It definitely feels good, something to build on," Lehner said. "[When] the team does good, individual success happens also. I'm just happy we're winning right now to be honest. It's nice, sure it is, but every win right now feels incredible, we just have to keep winning."

Tuesday's game poses an interesting dilemma. While Lehner is red-hot, Thomas Greiss has dominated the Carolina Hurricanes this season. Greiss is 3-0-0 vs the Canes this season, stopping 109-of-112 shots. Greiss, who hasn't played since Dec. 28, has won six straight games against Carolina, dating back to the 2016-17 season.

-   Valtteri Filppula and Thomas Hickey both joined the Islanders during practice on Monday at Northwell Health Ice Center. Monday marked the return to a team skate for both of the Islanders injured players, though Hickey practiced in a non-contact jersey.

Filppula has been out since Dec. 31 with an upper-body injury, while Hickey has been out since Dec. 17, also with an upper-body injury. Both players are currently on IR and need to be activated prior to returning.

- The Islanders are 3-0-1 in four games at NYCB Live - Nassau Coliseum - this season.

HURRICANES NOTES:

-   The Hurricanes have won four straight games and are 6-4-0 in their last 10.

-   Carolina (43 points) is trying to keep pace in the Eastern Conference playoff picture, as they sit seven points back of the Buffalo Sabres (50 points) for the second wild card berth.

-   Sebastian Aho leads the Hurricanes with 45 points (16G, 29A) in 41 games this season. Aho has six points (1G, 5A) in his last three games.

-   Defenseman Dougie Hamilton has four points (3G, 1A) on a three-game point streak.

-   Jordan Staal was placed on injured reserve with an upper-body injury on Jan. 4.

-   The Hurricanes are 12-2-2 in their last 16 games at Nassau Coliseum and are 24-7-0-4 at the Coliseum since relocating from Hartford to Raleigh.

Islanders’ Barzal Named NHL Rookie of the Month for January

NEW YORK – New York Islanders center Mathew Barzal, who led all rookies with 12 assists and 15 points in 13 games (3-12—15), has been named the NHL’s Rookie of the Month for January.

Barzal edged Tampa Bay Lightning center Yanni Gourde (6-2—8 in 12 GP), Islanders teammate Ryan Pulock (2-6—8 in 13 GP), Pittsburgh Penguins center Dominik Simon (4-3—7 in 11 GP) and Chicago Blackhawks right wing Alex DeBrincat (4-3—7 in 12 GP) for the honor.

Barzal registered at least one point in eight of his 13 January appearances, highlighted by 2-3—5 Jan. 13 at NYR – his second five-point performance of the season (also Nov. 5 vs. COL: 0-5—5). Only four other rookies have posted multiple five-point games within a single season during the League’s expansion era (since 1967-68); Barzal became the first to do so since 1981-82 (Marian Stastny).

The 16th overall selection in the 2015 NHL Draft, Barzal paces all rookies with 35 assists and 51 points through 52 contests this season. The 20-year-old Coquitlam, B.C., native joins Arizona Coyotes center Clayton Keller (October) and Vancouver Canucks right wing Brock Boeser (November and December) as a Rookie of the Month winner in 2017-18.

Holl scores in NHL debut as Maple Leafs blank Islanders 5-0

Associated Press

TORONTO (AP) -- Justin Holl walked into Air Canada Centre on his own a couple hours before Wednesday night's game, with his minor league equipment bag and a bundle of sticks in his hands.

He originally expected to have the day off. He was sure glad he played.

Holl scored in his NHL debut and Travis Dermott got his first goal in his ninth career game, leading the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 5-0 victory over the New York islanders.

"It's almost surreal," Holl said. "You're like `Wait did that really happen?' And you're like, `Nice, it did.'"

The 26-year-old Holl joined the Toronto organization on an AHL contract in 2015-16 before earning a two-way deal last season. He played in 239 minor league games before suiting up against New York.

"I have confidence in my abilities, sometimes you have to work a little harder for the things you want," said Holl, who was selected by Chicago in the second round of the 2010 draft. "You have faith it's all gonna turn out all right."

Holl and Dermott spent parts of the last two seasons together on the Toronto Marlies, making the evening that much more special for the blue-line duo.

"Crazy, you can't put it into words," the 21-year-old Dermott said. "You can't write it up any more perfect with (Holl) up here as my partner.

"It all came together perfect tonight."

Kasperi Kapanen, Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner also scored for the Maple Leafs (29-18-5), and Frederik Andersen made 28 saves for his fourth shutout of the season.

Thomas Greiss stopped 45 shots for the Islanders (25-22-5), who also lost 4-1 at home against Florida on Tuesday.

"Just really unacceptable the level we're playing at," captain John Tavares said. "Not gonna win too many hockey games the way we've played the last couple nights."

Toronto had three rookie defensemen in the lineup after scratching regulars Morgan Rielly (upper body), Roman Polak (viral infection) and Ron Hainsey (illness). Holl made his NHL debut alongside first-year skaters Andreas Borgman and Dermott. Defenseman Nikita Zaitsev returned to Toronto's lineup after missing 17 games with a foot injury.

The Maple Leafs scored twice in each of the first two periods.

"When you play a fast team like that it's always a challenge," Islanders coach Doug Weight said. "They came at us hard and looking back we had some really good chances we missed.

"Our guys battled, we just have to find a way to be better."

Kapanen opened the scoring 5:37 into the game by jamming in a loose puck near the goal line.

Matthews doubled the lead when he picked up a Zach Hyman rebound in the slot and sent a wrist shot by Greiss at 13:39. Jake Gardiner started the play with a long outlet pass and picked up the other assist to extend his point streak to six games.

New York appeared to be gaining some traction before Marner skated into the slot and re-directed a Nazem Kadri pass to make it 3-0 at 10:32.

Tavares had a great chance to put his team on the board on the power play, but he juggled the puck at the side of an open net before getting off a weak shot that Andersen had no trouble with despite being on his back.

Dermott finished off a pass from William Nylander with 1:01 to play in the second. Matthews skated right to the Islanders net to pick up the puck as a keepsake for Dermott.

"He gets excited any time anybody scores a goal. You can hear him probably up in the press box," Matthews said. "Him scoring his first, he was pretty pumped up."

Holl made it 5-0 with a wrist shot from an off angle that slipped through Greiss' legs at 3:42. This time it was Hyman who collected the puck for his teammate.

"Obviously, good for those kids," Leafs coach Mike Babcock said. "You don't get to score your first NHL goal very often - one time."

NOTES: Toronto F Matt Martin was a healthy scratch for a third straight game. ... Islanders F Andrew Ladd was activated from injured reserve and inserted into the lineup after missing nine games with an upper-body injury.

UP NEXT

Islanders: Host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday night.

Maple Leafs: Visit the New York Rangers on Thursday night.

Sateri gets 1st career win as Panthers beat Islanders 4-1

By VIN A. CHERWOO
AP Sports Writer

NEW YORK (AP) -- Harri Sateri had a long road to the NHL, and he was all smiles after his first career victory.

The 28-year-old rookie stopped 32 shots to help the Florida Panthers beat the New York Islanders 4-1 Tuesday night.

Selected by San Jose in the fourth round of the 2008 NHL draft, the native of Finland spent four seasons in the minors before playing the last three years with Podolsk Vityaz of the KHL. He made his NHL debut Jan. 2 at Minnesota and got his fourth straight start against the Islanders with Roberto Luongo and James Reimer sidelined by lower-body injuries.

"It's a dream come true," Sateri said of his first win after coming in 0-3-0 with 4.59 goals-against average. "Finally I'm here."

Mike Matheson, Evgenii Dadonov, Keith Yandle and Jonathan Huberdeau scored for Florida, which snapped a three-game skid and improved to 3-6-1 since closing December with five straight victories.

"We were on top of them all night, we didn't allow a lot of outnumbered rushes," Panthers coach Bob Boughner said. "We tracked really well in the neutral zone, we squeezed well and we denied a lot of entries. I thought that was the difference."

Adam Pelech scored for the Islanders, who have lost four of six. Jaroslav Halak, starting for the sixth straight game and 15th in the last 17, finished with 36 saves.

"We just weren't executing that well and just weren't as quick to pucks as we needed to be," New York captain John Tavares said. "We just didn't make it tough enough on their goaltender. We just didn't have our best today."

Florida was in control from the start. Yandle increased the lead to 3-0 on a long slap shot from the left point near the blue line at 4:14 of the third period. It was his fifth goal of the season.

Pelech, playing in his 100th career game, ended Sateri's shutout bid 55 seconds later with his second.

Sateri had to make several nice stops down the stretch to preserve the two-goal lead, including two saves on Anders Lee with about 8 1/2 minutes to go, a wrist shot in front by Brock Nelson 90 seconds later, and a tip by Lee with 6 1/2 minutes left.

"He's played well enough for us to win, we just haven't been able to be good enough for him," Yandle said. "I thought tonight he was awesome. We played well enough to get him a win."

Huberdeau added his 17th with 1:11 remaining. It was his eighth goal and 16th point in the last 14 games.

The win moved the Panthers 10 points behind Philadelphia for the last wild card in the Eastern Conference. The New York Rangers, Islanders and Carolina are also in front of Florida, all bunched up within two points of the Flyers.

"No one's waving the white flag here," Boughner said. "I'm going to scrape every point we can. Tonight was a great start for that after the All-Star break."

Matheson got Florida on the board 8:57 into the game with a hard wrist shot from the right point that ricocheted off the back of the crossbar and back out. Matheson's fifth of the season was confirmed after a video review.

Dadonov made it 2-0 with 5:20 left in the second when he scored on a wraparound inside the right post. It was Dadonov's fourth goal and ninth point in his last nine games.

NOTES: Former Islanders great John Tonelli took part in the ceremonial puck drop before the game. Tonelli was on the Islanders' four Stanley Cup championship teams from 1980-83 and had 206 goals and 338 assists in seven seasons in New York. ... Former Islanders coach Jack Capuano, now the associate coach under Boughner, returned to Brooklyn for the first time since he was fired Jan. 17, 2017. Capuano spent 6 1/2 seasons as head coach of the Islanders, leading them to their first postseason win since 1993 when they beat Florida in the first round of the 2016 playoffs. He received mild applause when he was announced during a brief tribute on the videoboard during a timeout in the first period. ... Islanders C Casey Cizikas was activated off IR and returned after missing six games with an upper-body injury. He was the left wing on the third line with Brock Nelson and Alan Quine. ... Tavares played in his 638th game, tying Derek King for 10th place on franchise list.

UP NEXT

Panthers: At Buffalo on Thursday night

Islanders: At Toronto on Wednesday night.

Johnston nets 1st career goal, Isles top Golden Knights 2-1

By W.G. RAMIREZ
Associated Press

LAS VEGAS (AP) – The New York Islanders joined the Edmonton Oilers as the only teams in the NHL to defeat the surprising Vegas Golden Knights twice this season.

Ross Johnston scored the first goal of his NHL career, helping New York complete a season sweep by defeating the Golden Knights 2-1 on Thursday night.

New York, which concluded the first half of the season by scoring a point in six of its last eight games (5-2-1), sits just one point back in the wild-card race and eight points back of Metropolitan Division-leading Washington.

"I think we've played some better hockey," Islanders coach Doug Weight said. "We did good things today and it's got to be something that'll be fun to watch on the flight home. We were starving for a 2-1 game, we got it against the best team in the league and it's really exciting."

Jordan Eberle also scored for the Islanders, while Jaroslav Halak had 38 saves.

"I think right now we need any points," Halak said. "Tonight wasn't any different. I think it was a really good road trip for us. We didn't get three wins, but we got five points out of six and we should be happy about it."

Vegas (32-12-4) was looking to tie the 1993-94 Florida Panthers for the NHL record for most wins in an inaugural season with 33. It was just the third home loss for the Golden Knights, who are now 19-3-2 at T Mobile Arena.

Erik Haula scored the lone goal for the Golden Knights. Marc-Andre Fleury, who will represent Vegas on the Pacific Division roster in the All-Star game, stopped 23 shots.

"It's disappointing after tonight, but if you look at since the beginning of the season, I think we can be proud of our team to be where we're at right now," Fleury said. "That's what we all try for, winning games and having success. That's why we've had success all season long. I bet if you asked me in September if I would be surprised, I probably would say yes. But seeing the way this team has been playing since the beginning of the season, I'm not too surprised."

Johnston, who was recalled from AHL's Bridgeport on Jan. 19, gave the Islanders a 1-0 lead in the second period after his shot was deflected Golden Knights center Cody Eakin, who was looking to prevent a pass to the crease, and inadvertently knocked the puck past Fleury.

The Islanders took a 2-0 lead off a turnover as Eberle beat Fleury with a point-blank wrist shot in front of the net. Rookie Mathew Barzal picked up his 35th assist of the season, including his fourth in as many games.

With 3 seconds left on a power play, Haula got Vegas on the board when he tipped David Perron's shot from the top past Halak with a little more than five minutes left in the game.

Though Vegas found some energy late in the game, it wasn't the same energy it's normally ignited by in its own arena. The loss snapped Vegas' home points streak at 12 games (10-0-2).

"We weren't as crisp as we usually are, we mishandled a lot of pucks, we weren't as sharp as usual," Vegas coach Gerard Gallant said. "We looked OK at times, and we looked like we had some good pressure, but for the most part the execution wasn't there tonight like it usually is. Up until now we played really well. It's too bad we couldn't find a way to get a point or two tonight."

New York, which came in ranked 30th both on the road (70.0 percent) and overall (73.8) with their penalty kill, were 1 for 2 with one man down. The Islanders also did a good job to slow Vegas' transition game, while also keeping its hottest scoring threat in check for most of the game.

William Karlsson, who has the second-most goals in the league with 27, was limited to just one shot. Karlsson had recorded a point in each of his previous four games, a total of five points, with four goals and one assist.

"We just got pucks in and played a great road game," Weight said. "They're a good hockey club. They're going to get their chances. We played a great game, we frustrated them and hopefully we can look back and say this vaulted us somewhat.

"When you look at it going into the break and two teams have left this building in four months with two points, it's pretty special and it's something we have to feed off of."

NOTES: The Islanders improved to 2-11-2 when they do not score three goals. They are 23-6-2 when scoring at least three. ... As the teams head to the All-Star break, Islanders center John Tavares will participate in his fifth consecutive game. ... Tavares will be joined by Josh Bailey who is making his first trip to All-Star weekend. It's the first time the Islanders have had two representatives at the event since the 2014-15 season. ... Fleury remains two victories away from moving into a tie for 13th all-time among goaltenders with 389.

UP NEXT

Islanders: host Florida on Tues. Jan. 30

Golden Knights: open a six-game road trip at Calgary on Tues. Jan. 30

Bergeron scores 3 as Bruins beat Islanders 5-2

By VIN A. CHERWOO
AP Sports Writer

NEW YORK (AP) -- A day after going without a shot on goal, Patrice Bergeron regained his scoring touch for the rolling Boston Bruins.

Bergeron scored three goals Thursday night for his second hat trick in less than two weeks, leading Boston to a 5-2 victory over the New York Islanders that gave the Bruins at least a point for the 15th consecutive game.

Brad Marchand had a goal and two assists as Boston improved to 11-0-4 since its last regulation loss Dec. 14 against Washington - its best stretch since going 15-0-1 from March 2-30, 2014.

Bergeron had at least three goals in a game for the third time in his career and just 12 days after a four-goal performance at home against Carolina. He hadn't scored since that five-point night, but had four assists in four games, including two in a win at home against Montreal on Wednesday night.

"Last game was one of those nights where I was trying to find my wingers," the 32-year-old center said. "Tonight I was getting the looks again and I was trying to take them."

With 19 goals in 39 games this season, Bergeron is on pace to eclipse his career high of 32 set two season ago.

"I feel like I'm shooting just as much, maybe I get some better looks and Brad is finding me a little bit more in the slot," Bergeron said. "Puck goes in sometimes and sometimes it doesn't, and right now it is so I'm going to try to keep shooting and keep trying to find the back of the net."

Ryan Spooner had a goal and an assist, and Anton Khudobin stopped 22 shots as the Bruins improved to 20-3-4 since Nov. 15 and pulled within five points of first-place Tampa Bay in the Atlantic Division.

Jordan Eberle and John Tavares scored for New York, which has dropped seven of 10 - with each of the losses coming in regulation. Jaroslav Halak made 29 saves.

Bergeron completed the hat trick when he took a pass from Marchand, spun and fired from the left circle at 3:45 of the third period.

"When he's playing the way he is right now, it's fun to watch," Marchand said. "It's fun to be on the ice with him."

Tavares' 25th pulled the Islanders within two with about 5 1/2 minutes remaining. Marchand capped the scoring with his 20th, an empty-netter with just over a minute to go.

Boston took control with two goals in the second period and sealed it with two more in the third.

Spooner put Boston ahead 2-1 near the midpoint of the second. Off a faceoff in the Islanders' zone to Halak's left, Spooner backhanded the puck past the goalie for his seventh at 9:47.

Just 15 seconds after New York's Anders Lee was sent off for tripping, Bergeron got the puck on the right side after Torey Krug's shot went off Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech's leg and beat Halak with 6:11 left in the middle period. Krug got his 200th career point on the play.

"They got a break on the second goal," New York coach Doug Weight said. "The (power-play goal) slapped us in the face and we got away from our game. We got frustrated in the third (period)."

Eberle gave the Islanders a 1-0 lead 7:35 into the game when he beat Khudobin for his 15th. Mathew Barzal got his 32nd assist and 48th point on the play - both tops among all NHL rookies.

The Bruins tied it with 6:19 left in the first when Bergeron fired it past Halak from the inside edge of the right circle.

NOTES: Barzal has eight assists and 11 points in the last five games. ... Islanders F Josh Bailey, headed to his first All-Star game, returned to the lineup after missing four games with a lower-body injury. He had an assist on Tavares' goal. ... The Bruins swept the three-game season series, also winning 3-1 at home on Dec. 9 and 5-1 in New York on Jan. 2. ... Boston has won seven straight on the Islanders' home ice since a 3-1 loss at Nassau Coliseum on Nov. 2, 2013. That includes five visits to Barclays Center, the Islanders' home since the start of the 2015-16 season. ... Bergeron has nine goals and 14 points in his last eight games. ... Marchand, the Bruins' leader in goals, assists and points, has five goals and nine assists in his last seven games.

UP NEXT

Bruins: At Montreal on Saturday to wrap a two-game trip.

Islanders: At Chicago on Saturday to open a three-game road trip heading into the All-Star break.

Severson scoreals 2 as Devils beat Islanders, end 6-game skis

By VIN A. CHERWOO
AP Sports Writer

NEW YORK (AP) -- Nearly three weeks after the Devils' last victory, Damon Severson didn't want to say his team was getting desperate. He did acknowledge they needed a win.

Severson scored twice 1:26 apart in New Jersey's three-goal second period, and the Devils ended a six-game skid with a 4-1 victory over the New York Islanders on Tuesday night.

"We really wanted to get back on track and find a way to start winning more games," Severson said. "Two points is what counts at the end of the day. This one felt good and hopefully we can get on the right track now."

Kyle Palmieri and Taylor Hall also scored for New Jersey, which was 0-3-3 since beating Detroit at home on Dec. 27. Keith Kinkaid, getting the start after Cory Schneider was a late scratch due to illness, stopped 25 shots.

"It's a relief to get two full points," Kinkaid said after making just his second start since Dec. 9. "We played a hell of a game, defensively and offensively. We never let off the gas."

Anders Lee scored and Jaroslav Halak made 38 saves as the Islanders snapped a three-game winning streak that started with a 5-4 shootout victory over the Devils here on Jan. 7.

"They've been off for a couple of days, we've had a real hard couple of games," New York coach Doug Weight said. "It's tough, but teams go through it. We were mentally tired early and didn't do a great job managing the game."

New Jersey trailed less than two minutes in but got four straight goals starting with Palmieri's score late in the first period.

Halak, who faced more than 35 shots on goal for his 10th straight start, made nice stops on in-close tries by Brian Boyle and Brian Gibbons with about 7 1/2 minutes left in the middle period to keep the score tied.

However, Severson gave the Devils the lead about 30 seconds later as he got the rebound of a shot by Gibbons and beat Halak from the right circle. It was the defenseman's fifth goal of the season and first in 12 games.

Severson doubled the Devils' lead on a one-timer from the deep center point near the blue line off a pass from Ben Lovejoy with 5:36 remaining.

"I wasn't really expecting the puck overall because I was telling Lovejoy `no don't pass it' because I saw their forward, and then right before he passed it I was, OK, yeah, he's got that space," Severson said.

Hall made it 4-1 with his team-leading 16th with 1:40 left.

Kinkaid, a Long Island native who grew up an Islanders fan in Farmingville, New York, beat them for the first time in his career. He came in 0-3-2 with a 3.19 goals-against average in six games against the Islanders.

"It's fun getting a win against your hometown team," Kinkaid said. "I'm sure I'm going to get a few texts from a few buddies."

Lee got the Islanders on the scoreboard 1:39 into the game. It marked the second straight game New York scored on its first shot and within the opening two minutes. Anthony Beauvillier did it in the Islanders' 5-4 overtime win at Montreal on Monday night.

The Devils took over from there.

New Jersey tied it on the power play with 4:40 left in the opening period as Palmieri beat Halak with a one-timer from the left circle for his eighth.

The Islanders' Brock Nelson and New Jersey captain Andy Greene tussled briefly in front of the Devils' net as time expired in the first. It was the first NHL fight for each.

NOTES: New York has been outshot 493-374 in the last 12 games, with Halak starting 10. That includes the 56 faced by Thomas Greiss against the Canadiens. ... New York lost for just the second time in 18 games when scoring the first goal. ... The teams play two more times - both in New Jersey - on Feb. 24 and March 31. ... Hall extended his points streak to five games with four goals and five assists in the stretch. ... New Jersey improved to 17-0-2 when leading after two periods.

UP NEXT:

Devils: Host Metropolitan Division-leading Washington on Thursday night.

Islanders: Host Boston on Thursday night before a three-game trip heading into the All-Star break.

Tavares' 2nd goal lifts Islanders past Canadiens 5-4 in OT

Associated Press

MONTREAL (AP) -- John Tavares got a second chance in overtime and made the most of it.

The Islanders' captain was robbed on a spectacular save by Carey Price but got the puck back and made no mistake to give New York a 5-4 victory despite being outshot 56-24 by the Montreal Canadiens on Monday night.

"That first one was a heck of a save," Tavares said of a close-range shot that Price swung out a leg to stop. "He's arguably the best goalie in the league.

"I had a chance to play with him before and seen his talent firsthand, so you know you have to be at your best and you can't take any opportunity for granted. I tried not to quit. I stayed with it and I'm glad I got an opportunity and put it in."

Tavares also had a goal in regulation as the Islanders won their third straight after a season-high five-game losing streak. More eye-catching was Mathew Barzal, coming off his second five-point game of the season in a win at the Rangers two days earlier, had a goal and two assists to give him 10 points in the last three games.

"During the season there are ups and downs," Barzal said. "There are times when you feel you're never going to score again and times when everything's going in.

"Hopefully I can just ride it for a while."

Anthony Beauvillier and Adam Pelech also scored for the Islanders, and Thomas Greiss finished with a career-high 52 saves.

Nicolas Deslauriers, Paul Byron, Jonathan Drouin and Max Pacioretty scored for Montreal, which twice tied the scored after falling behind by two goals. Price stopped 19 shots as the Canadiens fell to 2-0-2 in their last four games.

"I thought we were the better team," said Montreal coach Claude Julien. "They scored three goals on (their first) 10 shots, but we showed character in coming back.

"It's disappointing we didn't get the two points, but we got six points out of the last eight and if we keep going like that we'll be back in the race."

Pelech gave the Islanders a 3-2 lead 2:37 into the second period as he pounced on a loose puck after Barzal's shot was blocked and swept it in fromt eh slot for his first of the season.

After the Canadiens turned the puck over on a blind, backhand pass by Alex Galchenyuk, Tavares scored on a short-handed breakaway at 5:36 to give the Islanders their second two-goal lead.

For the second time this season, Montreal lost a power-play goal to the "skate in the air" offside call after a video review showed Byron's skate a millimeter or two off the ice before Schlemko scored at 12:19.

Drouin banged in a rebound of Jakub Jerabek's shot with 44 seconds left in the second for his first goal in 14 games since Nov. 29.

Pacioretty, with a goal in a fourth straight game, tied it 4-4 on a power play as he tipped in Jeff Petry's point shot with just under 7 minutes remaining in regulation.

"I don't feel I'm doing anything different," Pacioretty said of his scoring streak. "I got a couple of bounces and that's the way it goes some times.

"I feel I've been playing some good hockey for some time now and now I've got to keep going like this."

Montreal owned the puck in the opening minute, but when Barzal got it, he set up Beauvillier for a goal on the Islanders' first shot on Price 1:24 into the game.

Barzal then raced down the right side and put a shot over Price's left shoulder at 6:29 to make it 2-0. The rookie scoring leader now has three goals and seven assists in his last three games.

Deslauriers was alone on the doorstep to beat Greiss at 8:01 to pull the Canadiens within one, Jerabek picked up his first NHL point on the play.

Byron took the rebound of David Schlemko's shot off the end boards to tie the score with 7:50 remaining in the opening period.

NOTES: The Canadiens were without centers Phillip Danault (concussion) and Andrew Shaw (lower body), who were both injured in Saturday's shootout loss to Boston. Daniel Carr and Byron Froese returned to the lineup. ... The Canadiens claimed C Logan Shaw off waivers from Anaheim. He will join the team Tuesday in Boston. ... Barzal was coming off a two-goal, three-assist game in the Islanders' 7-2 win at the New York Rangers on Saturday. ... The Islanders were missing six injured regulars - forwards Josh Bailey, Nikolai Kulemin, Andrew Ladd and Casey Cizikas, and defensemen Calvin de Haan and Johnny Boychuk.

UP NEXT

Islanders: Host New Jersey on Tuesday night.

Canadiens: At Boston on Wednesday night.

Barzal, Beauvillier lead Islanders to 7-2 win over Rangers

By VIN A. CHERWOO
Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Mathew Barzal was terrific and Jaroslav Halak stepped up at a couple of key moments.

It was the Islanders’ day again in New York.

Barzal had two goals and three assists, Beauvillier added two goals and an assist, and the Islanders beat the Rangers 7-2 on Saturday for their ninth win in the last 10 meetings of the crosstown rivals.

Shane Prince, Thomas Hickey and Cal Clutterbuck also scored, helping the Islanders to the victory in both teams’ first game after their respective five-day byes. Jordan Eberle had four assists in the Isles’ highest scoring game of the season, and Halak stopped 37 shots.

“Just one of those nights where everything kind of finds its way into the back of the net,” said Barzal, who leads NHL rookies with 29 assists and 44 points. “It was a great team effort honestly.”

The Islanders won their second straight after a season-high six-game losing streak, and coach Doug Weight credited Halak’s play, especially early in the third period when the Rangers picked up their intensity.

“When they were blitzing us ... he came up with big save after big save in a four- to five-minute span and kind of defeated them a little bit,” Weight said. “Those are the flurries, those are the saves he was absolutely in charge of his game.”

Kevin Hayes and Mika Zibanejad scored for the Rangers, who have lost three of four. Ondrej Pavelec was pulled in the second period after giving up five goals on 19 shots, and Henrik Lundqvist finished with 16 saves.

“Mostly I am just disappointed. ... Points mean a lot right now,” Lundqvist said. “We have to regroup here because it’s another big one tomorrow (at Pittsburgh). I think the biggest thing right now is not trying to find an answer in everything. You just have to go to yourself right now, try to play your best game to try to help the group, and not figure out everything.”

The Rangers had a two-man advantage for 18 seconds about seven minutes into the third, but came up empty.

Zibanejad, standing on the left doorstep, then redirected Mats Zuccarello’s shot from the left circle past Halak for his 14th goal, making it 5-2 at 9:05. Zuccarello got his 200th career assist on the play.

Hickey restored the Islanders’ four-goal lead when his centering pass to Beauvillier from the right side deflected in off Zuccarello’s skate with 3:52 left. Clutterbuck made it 7-2 with his eighth of the season and fourth goal in the last four games with 1:05 remaining.

“I was really impressed with our lineup right through,” Weight said “It was an excellent win.”

The Islanders grabbed control with four straight goals after Hayes tied it at 1 at 14:25 of the first.

Prince scored his first goal of the season two minutes after Hayes’ power-play goal. The Isles then scored three more in the second.

Barzal made it 3-1 just 37 seconds into the period on a backhander past Pavelec and into the top right corner. He then scored his 15th of the season when he knocked in the rebound of his own shot at 4:11.

Beauvillier got his second of the game and seventh of the season when he beat Pavelec from the left circle at 6:51. The Rangers then pulled Pavelec and sent in Lundqvist, drawing cheers from the crowd and chants of “Hen-rik! Hen-rik!”

NOTES: LW Michael Dal Colle made his NHL debut for the Islanders. ... Injured forwards Josh Bailey, selected to his first All-Star appearance earlier in the week, and Andrew Ladd were out of the Islanders’ lineup for the second straight game. ... Islanders F Casey Cizikas left with an upper-body injury in the second period. Weight said Cizikas’ status was “not great” and he would not travel with the team to Montreal. ... The Islanders won 4-3 in a shootout at MSG on Oct. 19. The teams play two more times — both at Barclays Center — on Feb. 15 and April 5. ... The Rangers scored a power-play goal for the third time in five games, but are just 3 for 30 over their last 10 games.

UP NEXT

Rangers: At Pittsburgh on Sunday night.

Islanders: At Montreal on Monday night.

___

Follow Vin Cherwoo at www.twitter.com/VinCherwooAP

___

More AP NHL: www.apnews.com/tag/NHLhockey

Tavares and Bailey to represent Islanders at 2018 NHL All-Star Game

The National Hockey League announced today that John Tavares and Josh Baileyhave been selected to represent the New York Islanders at the 2018 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend, taking place from January 27-28 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, FLA. This marks Tavares' fifth consecutive NHL All-Star appearance and Bailey's first. It's the first time the Islanders have had two representatives at the event since the 2014-15 season, when both Tavares and goalie Jaroslav Halak were selected. 

Tavares, 27, scored four goals for Team Toews during 2015 All-Star weekend in Columbus, OH, tying an NHL All-Star Game record as the sixth player ever to score four. In 2016 in Nashville, TN, Tavares won the Accuracy Shooting contest during the Skills Competition while serving as the Metropolitan Division team captain. Last year, he helped the Metropolitan Division team win the 2017 All-Star Game in Los Angeles. 

The Islanders selected Tavares with the first-overall pick in the 2009 NHL Draft. The Oakville, ON, native currently leads the Islanders in points (51) and is second on the team in both goals (22) and assists (29). He's averaging over a point per game (1.19) and currently is tied for sixth in the NHL in scoring. In 630 career NHL games, spanning nine seasons with the Islanders, Tavares has 588 points (257 goals, 331 assists). 

Tavares won a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi and was a member of the Team Canada club that won the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. He was named a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy in 2012-13 and 2014-15, given annually to the NHL's most valuable player. He also won back-to-back gold medals with Canada at the 2008 and 2009 World Junior Championships. 

Bailey, 28, is making his first career NHL All-Star Weekend appearance. The first-round pick (ninth overall) in the 2008 NHL Draft leads the Islanders and is tied for second in the league in assists (38) this season. Bailey's 50 points through 42 games rank eighth in the league. Now in his 10th season with the Islanders, Bailey has totaled 356 points (118 goals and 238 assists) in 681 career games.  

Isles forward Matthew Barzal named NHL's Second Star of the Week

The NHL announced Sunday that New York Islanders rookie forward Matthew Barzal was named the league's "Second Star" fot the week ending Dec. 24.

Barzal posted six points, including a League-high four goals, in three games to power the Islanders (19-13-4, 42 points) to three out of a possible six standings points.

He registered one assist in a 6-3 loss to the Detroit Red Wings Dec. 19, 1-1—2 in a 5-4 overtime loss against the Anaheim Ducks Dec. 21 and his first career hat trick (including the game-winning goal) in a 5-2 triumph over the Winnipeg Jets Dec. 23. In doing so, Barzal became the 11th rookie in Islanders history to record a hat trick and first since 2010-11 (Michael Grabner), and the youngest Islander to do so since John Tavares in the same season.

The 20-year-old Coquitlam, B.C., native leads all rookies with 23 assists and 35 points through 36 contests this season.

GAMEDAY: Isles face Jets in Saturday afternoon tilt

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (18-13-4) VS WINNIPEG JETS (20-10-6)

DEC 23 - 1 P.M. - BARCLAYS CENTER

TV: MSG+ MSG GO

RADIO: 88.7 WRHU, 660AM/101.9FM WFAN

The Islanders will look to rebound from Thursday's loss when they face the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday afternoon.

The Islanders lost to the Anaheim Ducks 5-4 in overtime on Thursday night, the fourth time in five games they'd allowed five or more goals. In December, the Islanders are averaging 4.45 goals against and are 3-6-2 over that span.

"Giving up five goals is just too many. We have to find a way to be better defensively starting with myself," Isles center John Tavares said after Thursday's game. "We were scoring enough goals, we just need to tighten up and run with the opportunities."

LINEUP NOTES

The Islanders tinkered with their third and fourth lines at Friday's practice. Shane Prince practiced with Brock Nelson, Anthony Beauvillier and Steve Bernier, while Jason Chimera, Casey Cizikas and Cal Clutterbuck were reunited on the fourth line.

THE OPPOSITION

The Jets are second in the Central Division with 20 wins and 46 points. Mark Scheifele (drafted seventh overall in 2011) has recorded 37 points (15G, 22A) in 36 games this season, while Patrik Laine has followed up a sensational rookie season with 18 goals this season, sixth most in the NHL. Jets 2014 first-round pick (ninth overall) Nikolaj Ehlers has 17 goals and 28 points in his third season with the tean.

Scheifele, Laine and Ehlers all find themselves behind leading scorer Blake Wheeler, who has 41 points (9G, 32A) this season - seventh most in the league.

In goal, Connor Hellebuyck is 18-4-5 this season with a 2.44 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage.

Lindholm completes hat trick in OT as Ducks beat Isles 5-4

By ALLAN KREDA
Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) -- On most nights, Hampus Lindholm is not a huge threat to score. But the Anaheim Ducks defenseman was in the right place three times Thursday.

Lindholm completed his first career hat trick with a goal 4:03 into overtime, and Anaheim snapped a three-game losing streak with a 5-4 comeback victory over the New York Islanders.

"I had some room and a good shooting angle and it went in," the 23-year-old Lindholm said. "We really dug deep. It was good to get a win."

Ryan Miller made 22 saves for the Ducks, sending New York to its fourth loss in five games. It was the fourth win this season for the 37-year-old backup.

Anaheim tied the game with Miller pulled for an extra skater when Rickard Rakell scored at 18:45 of the third period. Brandon Montour and captain Ryan Getzlaf assisted. Getzlaf had four assists overall and has points in five games since returning from a facial fracture.

"It's always nice to have your big guys step up," Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said.

Andrew Ladd put the Islanders ahead 4-3 at 7:52 of the third as they rallied from a 3-1 deficit. New York goalie Jaroslav Halak was shaky early but rebounded to finish with 35 saves.

"We had a lead with two minutes left," Islanders coach Doug Weight said. "We played a little timid early, trying not to make mistakes."

Ladd's rebound shot for his ninth goal beat Miller after Islanders captain John Tavares tied the game with his second goal of the night at 5:44 of the third. The goal was the 21st of the season for Tavares.

The Islanders trailed 3-1 late in the second when Tavares scored at 16:59.

Tavares wasn't happy with his team's defensive performance, including his own. He was on ice for three of Anaheim's goals.

"Giving up five goals is too many," he said. "We have to find a way to be better defensively, starting with myself. We're scoring enough goals. It's frustrating. We should have better results."

The Ducks led 2-0 after the first period on goals by Lindholm and Ondrey Kase.

After Islanders rookie sensation Mathew Barzal narrowed the deficit on the power play at 5:39 of the second, Lindholm scored again at 12:36.

A day after announcing future arena plans at Belmont Park, the Islanders lost their second straight at home. They are 10-3-3 at Barclays Center this season.

The game drew a crowd of 10,092. The Islanders are last in the NHL in attendance, averaging 11,475 through 16 home games.

Lindholm opened the scoring at 8:09 with assists by Andrew Cogliano and Getzlaf. The 30-year-old Cogliano has never missed a game in his NHL career, playing in 822 straight.

Kase made it 2-0 at 9:54 when his slot eluded Halak.

The Islanders came out with more jump in the middle period. Barzal narrowed the deficit to 2-1 on the power play, his ninth goal of the season. Josh Bailey and Tavares had assists.

Bailey has points in seven straight games, and Tavares has a six-game point streak. Both had three points in the game and share the team lead with 45.

Lindholm scored his second of the game at 12:36 of the second to make it 3-1 in favor of the Ducks.

The Islanders entered having allowed a league-high 3.5 goals per game. They have given up three or more in 10 of 12 games this month.

"We're not satisfied," Weight said. "We have to keep the confidence up."

Anaheim won the previous meeting 3-2 at home on Oct. 11.

Islanders forward Shane Prince made his season debut. Prince had ankle surgery in August and recently played four games with Bridgeport of the AHL.

The Ducks were coming off a 4-1 loss to the New York Rangers on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden after losing 5-3 at New Jersey.

NOTES: Anaheim's leading scorer, Corey Perry, remained sidelined with a knee injury he sustained Dec. 11 at home against Carolina. ... The Islanders scratched forwards Alan Quine and Anthony Beauvillier, and defenseman Dennis Seidenberg. They were missing injured defenseman Calvin de Haan.

UP NEXT

Ducks: Finish their road trip Saturday afternoon at Pittsburgh before the Christmas break.

Islanders: Host the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday afternoon.

Red Wings beat homeward-bound Isles

NEW YORK -- The New York Islanders are expected to achieve a goal decades in the making Wednesday afternoon, when a press conference will be held on Long Island announcing the Islanders' owners have won their bid to build a new arena on the Nassau/Queens border.

Now an even bigger challenge awaits for the Islanders: Fixing one of the leakiest goaltending units in the NHL.

The Detroit Red Wings scored the final four goals Tuesday night as they overcame a drastic disadvantage in shots to beat the Islanders 6-3 at Barclays Center.

The Red Wings were outshot 37-22 but were playing on a particularly titled ice in the first two periods, when they were outshot 32-10, including 23-4 in the second. But Detroit managed to enter the second intermission in a 3-3 tie thanks to Anthony Mantha's goal with 4:45 remaining.

"A bit lucky for us, we (hadn't) played that great," said Red Wings center Henrik Zetterberg, who collected three assists to earn first star honors. "But we were in the game. Just wanted to go out and play a good 20 minutes and that's what we did and got two points."

Zetterberg assisted on Mantha's goal -- he missed a back-handed shot into a wide-open right corner of the net before Mantha put back the rebound -- as well as on Trevor Daley's game-winner with 9:57 remaining in the third.

The Red Wings added insurance goals when Mike Green scored with 5:48 left and Luke Glendening produced an empty-netter with 28.1 seconds remaining.

"There's no question about it, through the first two periods, really, I think we were fortunate to be in the game," Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. "I will say this, though: I thought we came out in the third and played great. I thought we really played hard. I thought we played to win. I thought we made a lot of plays. I thought we skated and I thought we won lots of puck battles."

Martin Frk and Gustav Nyquist scored in the first period for the Red Wings (13-13-7), who have won two straight following a hard-luck 11-game skid in which they went 1-5-5. Goalie Petr Mrazek, making his first start since Dec. 2, recorded 34 saves.

"We've played lots of really good games this year where we haven't won," Blashill said. "And this wasn't our best game, but we found a way to win. We have to do that also."

The seventh loss in the last 10 games for the Islanders (18-13-3) dampened the good mood of an announced crowd of 10,511 that arrived at Barclays hours after Newsday reported the franchise's owners won a bid to build a new arena at Belmont Park. A press conference announcing the move back to Long Island is scheduled for Wednesday.

The Islanders played at Nassau Coliseum from the club's inception in 1972 until moving to Brooklyn in 2015. But fans have been displeased by the longer commute to Barclays Center as well as the arena's poor hockey sight lines.

"A good note in, I think, a frustrating time," Islanders coach Doug Weight said. "I think it's great for the fans, it's great for the organization and everybody involved from the owners, they worked hard. Obviously I've heard what you heard and it feels like it's going to be good news."

The Islanders could certainly use some better news regarding their goaltenders. New York ranks second in the league in goals scored (121) and goals allowed (120).

Thomas Greiss, making his third straight start Tuesday, recorded 16 saves. Greiss and fellow co-starter Jaroslav Halak have combined for a save percentage of .871 in the last 10 games.

Weight, who has said the defensive struggles are a team-wide issue, continued to defend his goalies Tuesday night.

"Yes, I have confidence in my goalies, of course I do," said a curt Weight, who added he was "(ticked) off" about the Islanders' current predicament.

"They're going through a rough time now," Weight said. "It gets in your head and you feel like you cant give anything up."

Anders Lee, Ryan Pulock and Josh Bailey scored for the Islanders. Bailey, who has scored a goal in three straight games (five total) and recorded a point in six consecutive contests (11 points), was named the third star of the week by the NHL on Monday.

NOTES: The Islanders scratched C Shane Prince (conditioning stint) as well as D Thomas Hickey and C Alan Quine. ... Islanders D Calvin de Haan (shoulder) was placed on injured reserve Monday with an injury sustained in Saturday's game against the Los Angeles Kings. Newsday reported de Haan could miss the rest of the regular season. Hickey, who missed the previous four games with an upper-body injury, was activated in a corresponding move. ... The Red Wings scratched LW David Booth and D Xavier Ouellet. ... Red Wings G Petr Mrazek played a full game for the first time since Nov. 9.

Islanders get Belmont Park site

Corey Sipkin/New York Post

NY Post Sports Desk

The Islanders are returning to Long Island.

After three seasons in Brooklyn on the miserable ice at Barclays Center, the Islanders have been awarded the rights to the Belmont Park for their new arena, The Post’s Rich Calder confirmed.

The team was competing with MLS’ New York City FC, who planned for a 26,000-seat stadium at the site.

“It’d be great for the fans and the city and the franchise and everything else. … We’re all hopeful and we’re all anticipatory but you don’t want to get ahead of yourself,” Islanders coach Doug Weight said before the announcement.

The Islanders’ plan calls for an 18,000-seat arena that will include an entertainment hub, hotel and retail village. The team is seeking to get out of its 25-year lease at the Barclays Center.

Bailey Named NHL Third Star of the Week

By New York Islanders PR

Photo: New York Islanders

The National Hockey League announced today that Josh Bailey has been named the Third Star of the Week.

Baileys scored eight points (4G, 4A) in four games including his first career hat trick on Thursday night in Columbus. Bailey recorded a point in every game last week and is currently riding a five game point streak and a three game multi-point streak. His eight points ranked second in the NHL behind teammate John Tavares (nine points).

Bailey co-leads the Islanders in points with 40 (9G, 31A) and leads the team with 31 assists. His 31 helpers currently rank second in the NHL.

In Saturday night's overtime win over the Los Angeles Kings, Bailey and Tavares become the first Islanders since 1993-94 (Pierre Turgeon) to hit the 40 point mark in the team's first 33 games.

This is Bailey's second time winning NHL Star of the Week honors this season. He was named the NHL's Second Star of the Week on Nov. 6.