Rookie’s first goal rallies Islanders

NEW YORK — The struggling Islanders desperately needed a boost and thanks to rookie Sebastian Aho, they received a lift heading into their bye-week break.

The 21-year-old Swedish defenseman scored his first NHL goal with his team down two scores in the third period, then assisted on the tying goal by Cal Clutterbuck before the Islanders won in the shootout, 5-4 over the New Jersey Devils 5-4 on Sunday to snap a five-game skid.

“There’s no panic in his game. He’s come in with a lot of poise,” Islanders captain John Tavares said of Aho, a fifth-round draft pick by the Islanders last June who was playing in his third game. “Over the course of a season, we need everybody to make contributions.”

Brock Nelson scored the only goal of the shootout to give the Islanders (21-18-4) their first win since Dec. 27. Nelson beat Devils netminder Cory Schneider in the fifth round.

The Devils had a grand chance to win in overtime when Tavares was assessed a tripping penalty halfway through, but New Jersey did not register a shot on goal.

Jaroslav Halak made 42 saves for the Islanders, who were badly outplayed over their five-game stretch of losses in which they were outscored 25-8 and didn’t register a point.

The Devils (22-11-8) lost their fifth straight before both teams start a leaguemandated five-day break. Two of the five losses have come in shootouts and one in overtime.

“When you have a twogoal lead, you’ve got to learn to lock it down,” Devils coach John Hynes said. “Little things make a difference.”

Clutterbuck and Aho tied the game after Miles Wood and Taylor Hall had given the Devils a 4-2 lead early in the third period.

Clutterbuck’s tying score came at 15:43 after Aho narrowed the deficit to 4-3 with his first goal at 7:58. Aho’s power-play goal was assisted by Tavares and Mathew Barzal, who leads all rookies with 26 assists.

PENGUINS 6, BRUINS 5 (OT)

PITTSBURGH — Evgeni Malkin got his second goal of the game at 2:51 of overtime to rally the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 6-5 victory over the Boston Bruins on Sunday night.

Phil Kessel set up Malkin, who one-timed a shot over Tuukka Rask’s pad during a 2-on-1.

Malkin and Kessel scored power-play goals in regulation, while Kris Letang, Jamie Oleksiak and Riley Sheahan also scored for Pittsburgh.