Holmstrom's late short-handed goal lifts Islanders past Ducks

ELMONT, N.Y. -- Simon Holmstrom scored a short-handed goal with 1:33 remaining for the New York Islanders in a 4-3 win against the Anaheim Ducks at UBS Arena on Wednesday.

Holmstrom skated to the bottom of the left circle and roofed a shot over the right shoulder of goalie John Gibson.

Semyon Varlamov made two late saves during the same Ducks power play to preserve the win. He made a glove save on Ryan Strome through a screen with 5.7 seconds left, then made another glove stop on Frank Vatrano with two seconds left after Anaheim won the ensuing face-off.

Mathew Barzal, Kyle Palmieriand Casey Cizikas scored, and Noah Dobson had two assists for the Islanders (14-7-7), who have won four in a row and extended their point streak to seven games (6-0-1). Varlamov made 21 saves.

“There was not a lot going on at times. We didn't give them a whole lot, and they got a couple of good breaks on their goals," New York coach Lane Lambert said. "The short-handed goal went off our guy, and a guy broke his stick. It was not an easy game to play, but I thought our guys did a good job of battling through it and finding a way to win.”

Sam Carrick, Adam Henrique and Troy Terry scored for the Ducks (10-18-0), who have lost four straight and 12 of their past 13. Gibson made 30 saves.

“We sleepwalked through the first period. Kind of saw that coming, and we kind of got traction as the game went on," Anaheim coach Greg Cronin said. "I thought we played a solid third period, and we just fumbled the power play at the end. There’s not much to say.”

Palmieri gave the Islanders a 1-0 lead 40 seconds into the second period, beating Gibson short side with a one-timer from the right circle off a pass from Brock Nelson from behind the net.

Cizikas made it 2-0 at 6:32 from the left circle off a return cross-ice pass from Cal Clutterbuck on a 3-on-2 rush.

Terry cut it to 2-1 at 7:47 when his cross-ice pass redirected into the net off the skate of Robert Bortuzzo on the power play. It was his first goal since Nov. 1 (18 games).

Henrique tied it 2-2 at 13:29. Urho Vaakanainen broke his stick on a one-timer from the left circle, but the puck deflected off the skate of Jean-Gabriel Pageau to the edge of the crease, where Henrique tapped it into an open net.

Carrick gave the Ducks a 3-2 lead at 5:07 of the third period with a shot off the rush that hit the stick of Samuel Bolduc and knuckled past the blocker of Varlamov.

“I was trying to shoot through him and use him as a screen,” Carrick said. “I think it hit off him and kind of got a lucky bounce. Anytime you can get a chance in the slot there to throw it on the net, it’s never a bad shot.”

Barzal tied it 3-3 with a power-play goal at 7:46, scoring high blocker side with a one-timer from the edge of the left circle.

“It's a mature group. A lot of experienced guys that have been through a lot of situations,” Dobson said. “So, we've handled it pretty well. A lot of injuries. Guys are in and out. As a group, everyone's kind of coming together to give a little more to pick up the slack, so it's been a couple of big wins here as of late.”

NOTES: Holmstrom leads the NHL with four short-handed goals this season. ... Islanders forward Bo Horvat had the primary assist on Barzal's goal to extend his point streak to eight games (five goals, seven assists). ... Dobson extended his point streak to five games (eight assists). ... Henrique won 15 of 20 face-offs (75 percent).