Sabres 2, Islanders 1
NEW YORK -- Center Sam Reinhart scored with 6:16 remaining in the third period to lift the Buffalo Sabres to a come-from-behind 2-1 victory against the New York Islanders at Barclays Center on Sunday night.
Trailing 1-0 entering the third period, left winger Matt Moulson and Reinhart scored to give the Sabres their third win in four games.
Goaltender Linus Ullmark stopped 28 shots for his second win of the season.
Defenseman Calvin de Haan scored for the Islanders, who were without leading scorer John Tavares for the second straight game. Goaltender Thomas Greiss turned aside 20 shots in a losing effort.
After a scoreless first period, de Haan's first goal of the season put the Islanders ahead 1-0 at 13:42 of the second period.
Ullmark was able to withstand a flurry around his net after denying defenseman Travis Hamonic's long shot. But a giveaway by Sabres defenseman Mark Pysyk led to de Haan's spinning shot from about 50 feet that broke the scoreless tie.
About two minutes later, Moulson had a chance to even the score on a breakaway. But Greiss denied the backhand attempt to keep the Islanders in front.
The former Islander would get the better of his former team early in the third period by scoring his fourth goal of the season.
Center Zemgus Girgensons flipped a pass from the left side to the far post as Moulson drove to the net. Despite the checking of left winger Josh Bailey, Moulson was able to chip the puck past Greiss to tie the game at 1 at 6:20.
Reinhart's winner was the result of a 2-on-1 rush led by center David Legwand. Reinhart received the pass on the right wing and was able to bury a quick shot before Greiss could push across the crease.
Greiss went to the bench for an extra attacker with 1:22 remaining but the Islanders were unable to muster to a true scoring threat.
Neither team committed a penalty.
NOTES: Along with C John Tavares (illness), the Islanders were without D Thomas Hickey (lower body), LW Eric Boulton (lower body) and G Jean-Francois Berube (healthy scratch). ... This two-game absence marks the first time Tavares has missed NHL games since the 2014 season, when an injury at the Sochi Olympics in February ended his season. ... Sabres G Robin Lehner (ankle), LW Evander Kane (leg) and C Cody McCormick (blood clots) are all out long-term. ... Sabres D Mike Weber and C Tim Schaller were healthy scratches. ... Sabres C Tyler Ennis returned to the lineup after a two-game absence with a lower-body injury.