ELMONT, NY -- After a disappointing showing on Saturday night, the New York Islanders found a way to beat the New Jersey Devils Monday night 5-1.
With the Florida Panthers losing in regulation to the Ottawa Senators 5-2, the Islanders now hold a six-point lead over Florida with one game in hand. They also have a three-point cushion over the Pittsburgh Penguins, who have two games in hand.
LINES
Zach Parise-Bo Horvat-Hudson Fasching
Pierre Engvall-Brock Nelson-Kyle Palmieri
Anders Lee-Jean-Gabriel Pageau-Simon Holmstrom
Matt Martin-Casey Cizikas-Cal Clutterbuck
Adam Pelech-Scott Mayfield
Alexander Romanov-Ryan Pulock
Samuel Bolduc-Noah Dobson
Ilya Sorokin
Semyon Varlamov
RAPID RECAP
With chances going back and forth, the New York Islanders tallied the opening goal at 7:37 of the first period. After Devils netminder Vitek Vanecek denied Kyle Palmieri on a breakaway, Pierre Engvall followed up the play and tapped home the rebound for his 16th of the season.
Scott Mayfield was credited with the secondary assist.
Right before that goal, Islanders netminder Ilya Sorokin robbed Erik Haula on a one-time chance.
The Devils evened the score at 6:15 of the second period via a shorthanded breakaway by Erik Haula, as he snuck the puck around Sorokin's pad for his ninth of the season.
With 5:39 to play in the second, Kyle Palmieri caught up to a loose puck and held the puck for a quite a while. When he realized no one was pressuring him, Palmieri protected the puck as he cut to the front of the net before waiting and waiting.
Finally, when he thought it was time to shoot, he roofed a backhand for his 14th of the season. Brock Nelson was credited with the lone assist.
The Islanders struggled in the third period, but Sorokin did what he could to keep the Islanders' slim lead intact.
Devils forward Tomas Tatar scored with 11:09 to play in the third, but the referees immediately said it was kicked in.
After a league review, the goal did not count, and the Islanders continued with their slim one-goal lead.
Palmieri gave the Islanders a much-needed 3-1 lead as he rifled home his second of the night for his 15th of the season with 4:35 to play.
The veteran forward now has five goals over his last six games.
Bo Horvat got off the schneid as Casey Cizikas found him at the back post for his first goal in 12 games with 1:02 to play in regulation. His 37th goal of the season gave the Islanders a 4-1 lead.
When Lambert was asked if that goal can get him going, despite it being an empty net, he said it sure can.
"100 percent it can, yeah," Lambert said. "It's a big goal. A great play by Casey to get it to him."
Anders Lee was credited with the secondary assist.
Zach Parise scored a buzzer-beater empty-netter with one second to play to give the Islanders a 5-1 lead.
Sorokin put on an impressive performance in the third, stopping all 13 shots that came his way. He ended his night, stopping 30 of 31.
Defenseman Adam Pelech played a season-high 25:02 and was exceptional.
"Well, I mean, I've seen him play a lot of hockey games since I've been here. That was one of the best hockey games I've seen him play," Lambert said. "He was outstanding tonight.”
The Islanders slowed the Devils down due to strong structure in all three zones. It was one of their more structured games of the season. But they were also physical, outhitting the Devils 24-13.
"We want to be physical. That's a key part of our game," Palmieri said. "It's part of the way our team is built, and we got some big guys that get on the forecheck and make an impact and even on the backend, we have some guys that are able to clear the net and make it harder on other teams.
"So yeah, top the bottom everyone did their job."
WHAT'S NEXT: The New York Islanders face the Washington Capitals in D.C. on Wednesday at 7:30 PM ET.