Tavares nets OT winner for Isles as free-agency looms

John Tavares scored 3:16 into overtime and the Islanders rallied for a 4-3 victory over the Red Wings on Saturday night in Detroit in the season finale.

Tavares, set to be a free agent in the offseason, snapped a wrist shot past Red Wings goalie Jared Coreau on the stick side.

Ryan Pulock’s power-play goal with 29.7 seconds left in regulation sent the game to the extra period as Detroit squandered a 3-1 lead.

Anders Lee got his 40th goal for the Islanders, who are missing the playoffs for the second straight year and eighth in the past 11. Thomas Greiss stopped 36 shots to help the Islanders win their third straight.

Mathew Barzal had two assists to give him 63, tying Bryan Trottier’s Islanders record for a rookie set in 1975-76. It also tied Barzal with Penguins star Sidney Crosby (2005-06) for the second-most in the NHL by a rookie since the 1983-84 season. Joe Juneau leads that list with 70 for Boston in 1992-93. Barzal also leads all rookies with 27 power-play points.

Devs claim 2nd East wild card

In Washington, Alex Ovechkin scored twice to make it an NHL-leading 49 goals and the Capitals beat the Devils, 5-3, in the regular- season finale for both teams.

The Devils, playing without MVP front-runner Taylor Hall, fell to the second wild card in the Eastern Conference and will open on the road against the Atlantic Division winner, either Boston or Tampa Bay. The Bruins, one point behind the Lightning, have one game left — a Sunday night match against the Panthers that was rescheduled because of snow.

Patrick Maroon had a goal and two assists, and rookie Nico Hischier and Miles Wood each scored for the Devils. Cory Schneider, who lost his starting job to Keith Kinkaid, allowed five goals on 25 shots for New Jersey and failed to pick up what would have been his first victory since late December.