Recap: Isles Top Senators 5-4 In Shootout

It took a shootout, but the New York Islanders got a much-needed two points on Tuesday night, defeating the Ottawa Senators 5-4 at NYCB Live, the first half of a home-and-home set between the clubs.
Jordan Eberle scored the game-deciding goal in the shootout, while Brock Nelson, Devon Toews, Anders Lee and Ross Johnston scored in regulation, as the Isles snapped a two-game losing streak with the win.
The victory moved the Islanders back into a tie for first place in the Metropolitan Division and also served as Head Coach Barry Trotz's 800th career win.
"It was a big win because you lose a couple in a row and you have to get that confidence back," Johnny Boychuk said. "We got two points tonight and have to continue to get as many as we can."

Video: OTT@NYI: Eberle beats Anderson to kick off shootout

ISLES SURRENDER THIRD PERIOD LEAD, WIN IN SHOOTOUT:

The path to victory was a little bumpier and a lot more dramatic than the Islanders would have liked on Tuesday.
Leading 4-2 entering the third period, the Isles surrendered their two-goal lead, as Bobby Ryan cut the deficit at 7:38 and J-G Pageau tied the score with 4:40 to play. The Pageau goal was a strange sequence, initially called a goal, then called back by the refs for goalie interference, only to be overturned by a Senators challenge.
The refs determined that Brock Nelson had pushed Brady Tkachuk into Robin Lehner (21 saves), who wound up leaving the game (there was no update on his status immediately after the contest). Thomas Greiss (2 saves) came in relief of Lehner, playing the final 4:40, all of overtime and the shootout and was credited with the win.
It was a sequence of events that could have swayed the game, but the Islanders kept their composure.
"We responded with the win and that's all that matters," Boychuk said.
Greiss did his job on Tuesday, coming up with a big stop on Senators leading scorer Thomas Chabot in overtime, as well as skate save on the defenseman in a shootout. Ryan missed his shootout attempt, while Eberle and Mathew Barzal each scored for the Isles.

ISLES FINISH ON CHANCES:

The Islanders had plenty of good chances in their losses on Friday and Sunday, but unlike the two defeats, the Isles found ways to finish on Tuesday.
Nelson opened the scoring at 8:22 of the first period, knocking in a Josh Bailey rebound for his 21st goal of the season after recovering a failed Senators clearing attempt.

Brian Gibbons tied the score at one 26 seconds into the second period, but the Islanders responded with three more during a second period siege. Toews netted his fifth of the season on a Michael Dal Colle feed off the rush at 2:34, Lee tipped his 23rd at 5:45 and Johnston netted his first goal of the season at 10:02.
The Senators' only response came from Oscar Lindberg, who made it a 3-2 game at 6:32. Overall, the Isles peppered Craig Anderson (34 saves) with 26 shots in the second period, the fourth-highest total in team history.

DAL COLLE IN, CLUTTERBUCK OUT:

Michael Dal Colle picked up where he left off after being an emergency recall for the flu-stricken Islanders on Tuesday.
Dal Colle made an impact, setting up Toews' goal by intercepting a Chris Tierney pass, rushing the puck up the ice and saucing the puck over to the defenseman. (Toews credited his baseball background for gloving down the pass and chipping it past Anderson in one motion.)

Overall, Dal Colle finished the night with an assist, a hit and a shot in 13:04 TOI. After the game, Trotz said he loved Dal Colle's game on Tuesday, adding he feels he can trust him late in games.
"I loved his game. I thought he was as detailed and committed as any player out there," Trotz said. "There's trust in his game. There's confidence. I'm a fan of Michael."
Josh Ho-Sang was also an emergency recall for the Islanders, but did not dress as Casey Cizikas was healthy enough to play.
Matt Martin missed his third straight game with an upper-body injury, while Cal Clutterbuck also missed Tuesday's contest.

JOHNSTON SCORES FIRST OF THE SEASON:

How good did Ross Johnston's first goal of the season feel? The celebration said it all.
The Isles big man netted his first tally of the campaign on Tuesday, crashing the net as his own rebound deflected off him and past Anderson. Johnston was pumped, slamming the end glass in celebration.
Johnston has played in three straight games in Martin's absence after missing 20 straight games.

NEXT GAME:

The Isles and Sens conclude their home-and-home series on Thursday night in Ottawa.