The Islanders wisely played "playoff hockey" and defeated New Jersey, 5-1, at UBS Arena last night.

That's more like it.

In their quest for a playoff berth, the Islanders wisely played "playoff hockey" and defeated one of the NHL's best teams, New Jersey, 5-1, at UBS Arena last night.

But don't be deceived by the final score; this was a nail-biter down to the final minutes. Bo Horvat's -- yeah that Bo Horvat -- pressure-relieving open-netter once and for all downed the Devils' dirigible and that was that.

In order to make it just that, Ilya Sorokin was "ill" all night. That's "ill," as in illustrious. The goalkeeper's goalkeeper stopped 30 of 31 shots delivered by one of the league's most threatening offensive teams.

Still, he got a lot of help from his friends, particularly coach Lane Lambert's cleverly created line of Kyle Palmieri-Brock Nelson- Pierre Engvall.

"We had everyone going," said Palmieri whose two key goals and an assist earned him the game's first star. "All of us were pulling on the rope. It was a great team win."

Since returning to the lineup after his injury, King Kyle has amassed 22 points in 27 games and 10 points in his last six games.

All things considered, Lambert's sextet played with speed, purpose and moxie.

By doing so they defused the Devils firewagon game. New York was tenacious on pucks and shot at every opportunity.

Pierre Engvall -- his trade deadline acquisition looks better by the game -- was third star. His opening game goal was just the giddyap tonic his buddies needed. As one critic offered, it was Lucky Pierre's best game as an Islander.

"We had the mentality to do what it takes to win," Engvall asserted. His 16th red light of the season is a career high.

It was clear from the opening face-off that the Isles meant business. The defensemen hit hard and often with Adam Pelech (plus-3) seemingly in the middle of everything; the epitome of physicality.

"We defended hard," Pelech said in the understatement of the evening.

But when the chips were down -- and a key save was an imperative -- Sorokin was typically reliable and certainly a difference-maker. And he'll have to be as the homestretch becomes even more intense.

Perhaps that explains why veterans such as Palmieri and Zach Parise have been invaluable in a game so important to both New Jersey and the Islanders.

Parise's empty-netter was his 429th career goal lifting him over Hall of Famer

Yvan Cournoyer. Kyle's tally with 4:35 left in the third period -- making it a 3-1 game -- sent exhales throughout the arena.

"The Devils are fighting for first place," noted Parise "and we're fighting to get in. There was a lot on the line for both teams."

Parise -- in case you missed it -- tallied his 21st goal of the season which should qualify him for a "Comeback Kid Of The Year" award although he's not a kid any more.

Full credit to coach Lambert for his adroit line changes and, after the first period, having two centers out for face-offs. Also noteworthy was the fact that Simon Holmstrom replaced Josh Bailey on the unit with Anders Lee and Jean-Gabriel Pageau. Holmstrom was smart both with and without the puck.

Skating with Hudson Fasching and Parise, Horvat -- apart from his monkey-off-the-back goal -- played another solid 200-foot game and was a beast on face-offs, winning 68 percent of the draws.

Lambert noted that his team was unlike the Long Island Rail Road: "We had no passengers," the conductor concluded.

But the coach knows that to remain on the express track there are a few stations to clear, starting with Washington tomorrow night followed by Tampa Bay on Saturday and then Carolina the next night.

The Caps remain in the Wild Card mix but, for the moment, Florida -- defeated last night by Ottawa -- remains a prime focus not to mention Pittsburgh which sits right on the Isles tail.

The Nassaumen have 85 points, three more than the Penguins (82) and six ahead of the Panthers (79).

Hey, nobody said this Wild Card wildness would be a walk in the park. It's more like plowing through the jungle; but last night's performance demonstrated that the Isles can find a way out. Ergo: That was more like it!