Islanders 2, Devils 1
NEW YORK, NY -- Center Casey Cizikas' tie-breaking goal with 2:12 left in regulation led the New York Islanders to a 2-1 win over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night at Barclays Center.
Goaltender Jaroslav Halak made 22 saves and center Brock Nelson also scored for the Islanders (7-3-3), who snapped a three-game winless streak.
Goaltender Cory Schneider made 32 saves and center Travis Zajac scored for the Devils (6-5-1).
The second of four games between New Jersey and New York was almost a virtual replay of the season series opener, a 3-2 shootout win for the Devils at Prudential Center on Oct. 31.
Open ice was at a premium; instead of making plays in the middle of the ice both teams were limited to battling along the boards and around the net.
As such, it was fitting that the game's first goal occurred on a play that could only be viewed as beautiful in the eye of the beholder.
Nelson opened the scoring at 7:23 with his third of the season. Stationed at the far post, Nelson jammed a rebound through Schneider to give New York a 1-0 lead.
New York held onto the slim lead until Zajac popped the rebound of right winger Kyle Palmieri's off-wing shot past Halak 4:03 into the third. Zajac's goal came on the power play, snapping New York's 29-for-29 streak on the penalty kill dating back to Oct. 12 against the Winnipeg Jets.
The game remained tied until Cizikas' game-winner. Cizikas won an offensive zone faceoff and after he and left winger Matt Martin won a board battle, the center maneuvered to the front of the net before redirecting his linemate's shot.
Benefitting two long-time rivals, tempers flared, most notably in the second period. Following a Schneider save, Islanders defenseman Calvin de Haan placed Palmieri in a headlock. As the period progressed, Martin interceded on the behalf of Cizikas when Devils right winger Jordin Tootoo cross checked him twice. Both Martin and Tootoo were assessed roughing minors.
NOTES: Despite participating in the morning skate, New York C John Tavares missed his third straight game with an illness. Following practice at the team's Syosset, N.Y., training facility Monday afternoon, Islanders coach Jack Capuano said Tavares was, "not doing well, not feeling well. Obviously, there is concern, right? He's going to get checked out again, maybe get some more tests. I just know the report that I got from our doctors and trainers (Monday) morning that he's still not feeling well at all. So I don't expect him with us here for a little bit." ... New Jersey RW Jiri Tlusty missed his second straight game with an upper body injury. ... The Islanders scratched G Jean-Francois Berube and LW Taylor Beck. ... LW Stefan Matteau was scratched by the Devils. ... New York debuted its new black and white third jersey.