The New York Islanders found the offensive spark they needed from across their lineup to break out of a recent scoring slump.
Anders Lee netted the game-winner with 51 seconds left in overtime, and the Islanders got contributions from three of their four lines in a 4-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night.
“This is what we’ve been about the last couple of years,” Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock said. “It’s crucial to have different guys stepping up every night.”
Casey Cizikas, Jordan Eberle, and Tom Kuhnhackl also found the back of the net for the Islanders, who had struggled with just two goals in their previous three games. Thomas Greiss made 32 saves, including a key stop on Sami Vatanen during a 3-on-1 break in overtime.
Islanders coach Barry Trotz highlighted the bizarre sequence that led to the Devils’ breakaway chance: Brock Nelson lost his stick and struggled to retrieve another from the bench.
“It was a comedy of errors,” Trotz said after his team notched their second consecutive win following a 1-0 victory over Colorado. “Greisser made a huge save, and Leesie (Lee) came through with a big goal. I thought he was our best player by far.”
P.K. Subban, Nico Hischier, and Kyle Palmieri scored for the Devils, who were aiming for their second victory over the Islanders in less than a week. Mackenzie Blackwood, battling illness and a mouth injury, made 37 saves for New Jersey.
“He’s been under the weather the last couple of days. He looked rough in practice yesterday,” Palmieri said of Blackwood. “He struggled this morning but came out and fought hard.”
Lee’s overtime winner came after the Islanders caught the Devils in a line change. Devon Toews fed Lee, who fired a high shot past Blackwood for his 13th goal of the season.
“It all happened quickly. I think Goose (Gusev) went for a change,” Hischier admitted. “Honestly, I cheated a bit too much offensively. I thought it was going to be a chip out. I was late getting back, and that was my guy.”
Blackwood was shaken up late in the second period when a powerful slapshot from Pulock hit him in the mask. He did not speak after the game, and it appeared he may have lost some teeth.
The game was a tightly contested affair, with neither team holding more than a one-goal lead.
Palmieri gave the Devils their first lead of the night with a power-play goal with 8:05 remaining in regulation. However, Kuhnhackl, who had been out from late October to mid-December due to a lower-body injury, tied it up just over two minutes later with a shot from the right point after a turnover in the Devils zone.
The Islanders had twice taken one-goal leads, only to see the Devils respond.
Hischier’s goal at 2-2 came with 1:36 left in the second period. He grabbed the puck in the right corner, skated to the blue line, then cut back toward the net and scored on a backhander after fending off Mathew Barzal.
Eberle had earlier given the Islanders a 2-1 lead midway through the first period with a shot from between the circles following a turnover by Devils defenseman Damon Severson.
Cizikas opened the scoring at 3:38, capitalizing on the rebound of Matt Martin’s shot.
Subban tied the game five minutes later with a slap shot set up by Miles Wood, who circled the Islanders’ zone to find the defenseman.
Game Notes:
- No penalties were called until 51:36 into the game.
- Devils’ No. 1 overall pick Jack Hughes missed his third straight game with an upper-body injury.
- F Jesper Bratt missed his second consecutive game with a lower-body injury.
- Subban and Hischier also scored in the Devils’ 2-1 win over the Islanders last week.
- Islanders D Sebastian Aho was scratched for the third straight game since his recall from Bridgeport (AHL).
- Islanders D Noah Dobson turned 20 on Tuesday.
UP NEXT:
- Islanders: Host Boston on Saturday at Barclays Center.
- Devils: Visit the New York Rangers on Thursday night.
