Nelson’s OT goal lifts streaking Islanders

PITTSBURGH >> Brock Nelson’s second goal of the game 2:55 into overtime capped a frantic comeback to lift the New York Islanders over the Pittsburgh Penguins 5- 4 Tuesday night to extend their points streak to 15 games.

The Islanders trailed by two late in the third period before goals by Josh Bailey and Ryan Pulock in the final 4:29 of regulation forced overtime. Nelson won it when he fired a shot at Matt Murray that trickled to the goaltender’s right. Nelson tapped the rebound into the open net for his sixth goal of the season.

Anthony Beauvillier added his seventh for the Islanders, and Semyon Varlamov stopped 27 shots as New York improved to 14-0-1 in its last 15 games.

Brandon Tanev scored twice for Pittsburgh. Jake Guentzel had a goal and an assist and Bryan Rust also scored for the Penguins. Murray finished with 37 saves.

BLUES 3 LIGHTNING 1 >> Oskar Sundqvist and David Perron scored to lead St. Louis past Tampa Bay, spoiling Pat Maroon’s much-anticipated return after helping his hometown team to a Stanley Cup title last season.

Maroon, a St. Louis native, made his first trip back to the city since signing a one-year contract with the Lightning in the offseason. He scored the game-winning goal in double overtime of Game 7 against Dallas in the second round of the 2019 playoffs to send the Blues to the Western Conference final for the second time in four years.

Before the opening faceoff, Blues general manager Doug Armstrong presented Maroon with his Stanley Cup championship ring on the ice with former teammate Vladimir Taraskeno, who is out with an injury, alongside as well. Maroon received a standing ovation and as he waved to the crowd, the fans responded with thunderous cheers.

BRUINS 5, DEVILS 1 >> David Pastrnak and Matt Grzelcyk scored two goals apiece, and Brad Marchand added three assists to lead Boston over New Jersey.

Tuukka Rask made 25 saves and New Jersey native Connor Clifton added a goal as the Bruins beat the Devils for the eighth time in nine meetings.

Blake Coleman scored for New Jersey, which was looking for its first threegame winning streak since December 2018. Mackenzie Blackwood made 23 saves in starting for the 12th time in 14 games.

BLUE JACKETS 5, CANADIENS 2 >> Pierre-Luc Dubois had two goals and an assist, rookie Emil Bemstrom added a goal and an assist, and Columbus beat Montreal.

Joonas Korpisalo stopped 30 shots for his eighth win as Columbus improved to 8- 8- 4. Eric Robinson and Boone Jenner also scored for the Blue Jackets.

Artturi Lehkonen and Joel Armia had the goals for the Canadiens. Carey Price stopped 21 shots in his first loss since Nov. 2 as Montreal fell to 11- 6- 4.

WILD 4, SABRES 1 >> Zach Parise scored twice, Alex Stalock made 30 saves and Minnesota beat Buffalo.

Jason Zucker had a goal and an assist, and Jonas Brodin also scored for the Wild, who improved to 4-2-1 in their last seven.

Brandon Montour scored for the Sabres and Linus Ullmark stopped 22 shots. Buffalo is on a 1- 6-2 skid and battling injuries at the forward position following 9-2-1 start.

SENATORS 4, RED WINGS 3 >> Anthony Duclair had two goals and an assist, and Ottawa held on to beat Detroit.

John Gabriel Pageau and Brady Tkachuk also scored for Ottawa. Anders Nilsson made 35 saves, including 15 in the third period when the Senators were outshot 16-3. The Senators scored three goals in a 5:22 span in the second period to take a 4-2 lead. PANTHERS 5, FLYERS 2 >> Aleksander Barkov and Brett Connolly each had a goal and an assist to lift Florida over Philadelphia.

Jonathan Huberdeau, Colton Sceviour and Mike Hoffman also scored and Evgenii Dadonov had two assists. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 35 shots. The Panthers are 6-2-1 in their past nine games.

HURRICANES 4, BLACKHAWKS 2 >> Nino Niederreiter had a goal and an assist, and Carolina beat Chicago for its fourth straight victory.

JETS 2, PREDATORS 1 >> Patrik Laine and Nikolaj Ehlers scored, Connor Hellebuyck made 38 saves and Winnipeg defeated Nashville.

The teams are heading in opposite directions in the tough Central Division. Winnipeg has won three in a row and five of six. The reeling Predators have lost five straight and seven of eight.

STARS 6, CANUCKS 1 >> Jamie Benn scored twice, Ben Bishop made 32 saves and Dallas beat Vancouver for its fourth straight victory. AVALANCHE 3, FLAMES 2 >> Andre Burakovsky stayed hot with another two goals, leading Colorado over slumping Calgary.

Burakovsky has five goals in three games. The 24-year- old forward was promoted to the top line, and center Nathan MacKinnon assisted on both goals. MacKinnon has five goals and eight assists in his past six games.