Anders scores two as isles strike lightning

TAMPA, Fla. — Anders Lee scored twice and the New York Islanders held on after nearly blowing a four-goal lead, beating the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-3 Saturday night.

John Tavares had a goal and two assists, and Andrew Ladd and Brock Nelson also scored for the Islanders (11-6-2), who ended Tampa Bay’s five-game winning streak and handed the Lightning just their third regulation loss (15-3-2). Josh Bailey had three assists and Thomas Greiss stopped 36 shots to improve to 4-0-1 in his last five starts.

Yanni Gourde had t wo goals and Ondrej Palat had the other for the Lightning. Andrei Vasilevskiy had 27 saves.

Lee scored during a twogoal first and added a powerplay goal at 1:05 of the third as the Islanders went ahead 4-0.

After Gourde and Palat scored 13 seconds apart to cut their deficit in half at 3:26 of the final period, Gourde pulled the Lightning to 4-3 with 3:36 left.

Tavares sealed the Islanders’ win with an empty-netter with 22 seconds to go.

Tavares assisted on Ladd’s goal 51 seconds in, and set up Lee’s goal that made it 2-0 at 10:25 of the first with a nifty backhand pass through the slot into the left circle.

Lee’s goal came shortly after Vasilevskiy turned aside a breakaway shot and rebound attempt by Nelson.

Nelson put the Islanders up 3-0 midway through the second after coming out of the right corner and eluding defenseman Jake Dotchin.

Tampa Bay stars Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov were both held without a point for just the third time this season. — AP