Malgin nets winner in OT as Panthers defeat Islanders
SUNRISE, Fla. -- Jonathan Marchessault scored with 13.6 seconds left in regulation and Denis Malgin got the game-winner with 45.8 seconds left in overtime as the Florida Panthers defeated the New York Islanders 3-2 on Saturday night at the BB&T Center.
Florida pulled goalie Roberto Luongo in the final minute to get an extra attacker, and the plan worked as Marchessault got his eighth goal of the season, with an assist from Aleksander Barkov.
Malgin, a 19-year-old rookie, then delivered his third goal of the game, scoring in the final minute of overtime.
The Panthers (7-7-1) dominated the Islanders (5-7-3) during the first three periods, getting far more shots on goal, 39-20, but still trailing 2-0 after two periods.
Florida's first goal was produced by 24-year-old rookie center Kyle Rau -- the first score of his NHL career. The Panthers also had another goal disallowed -- twice on the same play.
For New York, Brock Nelson scored one goal and nearly another, and Jaroslav Halak played well until giving up the late goal.
Nelson scored in the first period and was initially credited with a second goal, in the second period, when the puck appeared to glance off his body. The ruling was later changed, and Nick Leddy was given credit for the goal.
The Islanders are 0-4-1 on the road this season.
Halak, pulled after making just 13 saves on 16 shots on goal on Thursday in a 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, was much better this time.
And the Islanders, who entered the weekend tied for 26th place on the penalty kill with a 75.9 percentage, were also much better playing short-handed. They were 4-for-4 killing off Florida power plays.
Luongo gave up two goals as Florida struggled to keep Nelson out of the crease.
The Islanders opened the scoring with just 22 seconds left in the first period. Luongo blocked a shot by Calvin de Haan. But Luongo left a long far-side rebound, and Nelson pounced on it for a goal despite a sprawling effort of Panthers defenseman Mark Pysyk to block his shot.
New York went up 2-0 with 10:06 left in the second period, scoring on a power play after Florida defenseman Alex Petrovic was called for tripping Jason Chimera.
The Islanders scored after Leddy's shot from the point was blocked by Luongo. This time, the carom went straight up and appeared to bounce off the body of Nelson, toward the Florida goal. Luongo tried to swipe away the puck but instead knocked it into his own net with his left hand.
NOTES: This was the teams' first meeting since the Islanders defeated Florida in six games in last season's first-round playoff matchup. ... Both teams posted over 100 points last season. ... Entering this weekend, only five NHL teams had committed more penalties than the Islanders. In contrast, only four teams had fewer penalty minutes per game than Florida. ... Panthers G Roberto Luongo, who started Saturday, is being rested more this season. This was just his fourth start in the past seven games. ... Panthers C Nick Bjugstad (hand) is skating with the team and could return next week. ... Florida scratched D Dylan McIlrath, LW Shawn Thornton and C Seth Griffith. ... The Islanders scratched C Alan Quine and G Jean-Francois Berube. ... Up next, the Islanders return home to face the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday. ... Florida starts a four-game road trip at the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday.