Islanders 5, Rangers 3
Michael Grabner scored twice to double his season total and Thomas Vanek tallied to snap a tie early in the third period as the visiting Islanders posted just their second win in 15 outings (2-9-4).
Defenseman Brian Strait netted his first NHL goal and Cal Clutterbuck tallied on a penalty shot for the Islanders, who recorded their first regulation win since Nov. 12. Rookie Ryan Strome notched an assist for his first career point in his third game.
Benoit Pouliot and Derek Stepan scored power-play goals and Derek Dorsett also tallied to celebrate his 27th birthday for the Rangers, who have dropped six of seven (1-4-2) during their franchise-high nine-game homestand.
With his team on the power play, Kyle Okposo skated into the high slot and unleashed a slap-pass that deflected off Vanek in front and past Henrik Lundqvist (15 saves). Vanek's goal at 1:18 of the third period gave the Islanders a 4-3 lead and Evgeni Nabokov (21 saves) held the fort until Grabner's empty-net tally with 51 seconds remaining sealed the win.
After Grabner beat Lundqvist on a breakaway to give the Islanders a 2-0 lead with 2:51 remaining in the first period, Pouliot answered 30 seconds later and Dorsett forged a tie after his shot from the right circle caromed off Islanders defenseman Thomas Hickey and into the net three minutes into the second. Stepan gave the Rangers a 3-2 lead by cleaning up a rebound five minutes later, but Strait's one-timer at 11:26 evened the contest again.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The Rangers have rallied from an early two-goal deficit in three consecutive games. ... Clutterbuck helped the Islanders draw first blood after forcing a turnover and racing down on a breakaway before being hooked by Rangers D Ryan McDonagh. Clutterbuck wristed a shot between the glove and left pad of Lundqvist on the ensuing penalty shot to open the scoring 14:42 into the first period. ... The Islanders scored a pair of short-handed goals for the first time since March 22, 2011, against Tampa Bay.