Islanders 5, Lightning 2
Mikhail Grabovski and Ryan Strome scored 63 seconds apart in the second period as host New York claimed a two-goal lead en route to its sixth victory in seven games.
Cal Clutterbuck, Brock Nelson and Casey Cizikas also tallied for the Islanders, who lost 5-2 at Tampa Bay on Saturday. Kyle Okposo and Frans Nielsen each had two assists for New York while Jaroslav Halak turned aside 26 shots to notch his fifth consecutive victory.
Alex Killorn scored his second goal in as many nights and Ondrej Palat also tallied as Tampa Bay lost in regulation for only the second time in its last 11 contests (8-2-1). Former Islanders goalie Evgeni Nabokov made 31 saves and Lightning captain Steven Stamkos saw his six-game point streak come to an end.
Killorn slipped his own rebound between Halak’s legs 11:53 into the game, but Clutterbuck intercepted a pass and beat Nabokov from the right circle while short-handed 39 seconds into the second session. Nielsen faked a shot in the slot before setting up Grabovski at the right side of the net at 12:23 to give the Islanders the lead.
Strome wheeled into the slot and whipped a low shot that ski-jumped off Tampa Bay defenseman Radko Gudas’ stick and past Nabokov at 13:26 for a 3-1 advantage. Defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky's shot from the point was deflected by Nelson on the power play 36 seconds into the third, Palat answered on a rebound at 2:14, but Cizikas converted a breakaway with 11:05 to go.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Nelson had a game-high eight shots on goal while Islanders captain John Tavares went 10-3 in the faceoff circle. ... Tampa Bay C-LW Cedric Paquette left the game in the first period with a lower-body injury and did not return. … Islanders RW Michael Grabner (hernia surgery) has begun skating with the team at practice and is expected to make his season debut soon.