Barzal points Isles’ way
Nets 2 goals, 3 assists in victory vs. Rangers
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, yesterday 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’ highestscoring game of the season, and Halak stopped 37 shots.
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.
Kevin Hayes and Mika Zibanejad scored for the Rangers, who have lost three of the last four. Ondrej Pavelec was pulled in the second after giving up five goals on 19 shots, and Henrik Lundqvist finished with 16 saves.
Penguins 4, Red Wings 1 — Evgeni Malkin had two goals and two assists, and host Pittsburgh beat Detroit for its third consecutive victory.
Phil Kessel added a goal and two assists for Pittsburgh, which had dropped its last three games against Detroit. Sidney Crosby had a goal and an assist, and rookie Tristan Jarry stopped 29 shots in his third straight start while Matt Murray is home in Canada tending to a personal family matter.
Justin Abdelkader scored for the Red Wings, who lost their second straight after a four-game win streak. Jimmy Howard made 32 saves.
Oilers 3, Golden Knights 2— In Las Vegas, Darnell Nurse scored 55 seconds into overtime to lift Edmonton past Vegas.
Patrick Maroon and Drake Caggiula also scored for the Oilers, and Cam Talbot made 34 saves.
William Karlsson and Reilly Smith scored for Vegas, while Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 27 shots.
Vegas, coming off its league-mandated bye week, was playing for the first time since Jan. 6 when they beat the New York Rangers 2-1. The Oilers, meanwhile, were playing for the second time in two nights after a 4-2 win in Arizona. Edmonton begins its bye week today.
Wild 4, Jets 1 — In St. Paul, Minn., Matt Dumba had two goals, Jason Zucker and Mikael Granlund also scored and Minnesota beat Winnipeg.
Dumba got his goals in the third period, helping Minnesota win its second straight behind 32 saves from Devan Dubnyk.
The loss is the second in two nights for the Jets after a 2-1 defeat to Chicago. Mathieu Perreault had Winnipeg’s goal, and Connor Hellebuyck stopped 37 shots.
Minnesota got its first win against Winnipeg in four tries this season.
Flyers 5, Devils 3 — Sean Couturier had two goals and an assist and Philadelphia posted its fourth straight win and extended New Jersey’s slide to a season-high six games in Newark, N.J.
Wayne Simmonds, Travis Konecny and Michael Raffl also scored for the Flyers, who have won five of six overall. Claude Giroux had the primary assist on two power-play goals and Brian Elliott made 26 saves as Philadelphia won in New Jersey for the first time since Feb. 16. 2016.
Jesper Bratt, Kyle Palmieri and Drew Stafford scored for the Devils, who are 0-3-3 for their skid. Cory Schneider had 20 saves.
Avalanche 4, Stars 1 — Alexander Kerfoot scored in the first period and assisted on Nathan MacKinnon’s winner, and Colorado beat host Dallas. It was the sixth straight win for the Avalanche.
The Avalanche remained in last place in the tight Central Division but are only two points behind Dallas for the second wild card in the Western Conference.
MacKinnon made it 2-1 with 13:27 to play on a snap shot from the inside edge of the left faceoff circle. The puck went off goalie Ben Bishop and into the net.
Blake Comeau scored with 1:40 left, and Mark Barberio added an emptynet, shorthanded goal.