Hickey's OT goal lifts Islanders past Flames
NEW YORK -- Thomas Hickey scored 1:53 into overtime Monday night as the slumping New York Islanders at least momentarily righted themselves with a 2-1 victory over the Calgary Flames.
Moments after jumping on the ice during a shift change, Islanders center John Tavares grabbed the puck near the left faceoff circle and fired a backhanded shot at the net. Hickey, stationed with his back to goalie Brian Elliott, got a stick on the shot, which trickled under Elliott's legs.
Tavares scored in the first period for the Islanders (7-10-4), who won for just the third time in 10 games (3-4-3). New York began Monday with the fewest points in the NHL but moved into a tie for 29th with the Arizona Coyotes by virtue of the win.
Islanders goalie Thomas Greiss had 25 saves.
Sean Monahan scored in the third for the Flames (10-13-2), who finished a six-game Eastern Conference road trip at 3-2-1. Elliott made 25 saves.
Tavares put the Islanders ahead 7:28 into the first period after a nifty setup by Josh Bailey. After Bailey corralled a loose puck near center ice, he skated toward the net and dished a no-look pass to Tavares, who fired a shot past Elliott from the left faceoff circle.
The Flames outshot the Islanders 11-10 in the second period when Greiss stopped semi-breakaways by Micheal Ferland and Matt Stajan about five minutes apart.
Monahan tied the score for the Flames 5:51 into the third period. Kris Versteeg, skating along the left faceoff circle, moved his way through two Islanders -- Johnny Boychuk and Shane Prince -- and passed to Monahan. Greiss was screened by Boychuk and Hickey and could not stop the shot as it sailed under his right arm.
NOTES: The Islanders scratched G Jaroslav Halak, D Scott Mayfield and C Ryan Strome. It was the second straight healthy scratch for Strome, who has been in and out of coach Jack Capuano's doghouse the last two seasons. "I've either got to play better or find a way to make them more happy, I guess," Strome told Newsday after the morning skate. ... Islanders D Ryan Pulock (broken foot) remains on IR but participated in practice Sunday. D Dennis Seidenberg (broken jaw) skated before practice Sunday. ... Calgary scratched C Freddie Hamilton, RW Garnet Hathaway and D Brett Kulak. ... Flames C Mark Jankowski made his NHL debut three days after being recalled from Stockton of the AHL.