Thomas Hickey gives Islanders win in overtime

NEW YORK -- Thomas Hickey scored with 3:07 left in overtime to give the New York Islanders a 2-1 win against the Calgary Flames at Barclays Center on Monday.
Hickey, a Calgary native, redirected John Tavares' backhand flip past Flames goalie Brian Elliott to help the Islanders avoid a three-game losing streak. It was Hickey's second goal of the season.
Tavares scored in the first period and Thomas Greiss made 25 saves for New York (7-10-4), which showed resiliency despite giving up a 1-0 lead in the third period.

"If we lost it might be a different story, but we found a way to win," Hickey said. "It's tough to give up momentum and give up leads, but at the end of the day, it's something we can build on. We got a win tonight and we did it in overtime. We didn't have to go to the shootout, so it was good."
Sean Monahan had a goal and Elliott made 25 saves for the Flames (10-13-2), who went 3-2-1 on their six-game road trip.
WATCH: All Flames vs. Islanders highlights
Monahan tied it for Calgary 5:51 into the third period. With the teams at even strength, Kris Versteeg sent a pass from the left boards into the slot, where Monahan shot a one-timer past Greiss to make it 1-1. It was Monahan's sixth goal of the season.

"It's frustrating when you come back with that huge goal by [Monahan] and that line coming through for us to tie it up," Elliott said. "It's hard getting points on the road. I think 3-2-1 on this road trip, we got a lot of points here so it's a step in the right direction. We have to be positive coming back home."

Goal of the game

Tavares gave the Islanders a 1-0 lead 7:28 into the game. Josh Bailey collected the puck in the neutral zone, skated over the blue line and sent a pretty backhand feed to Tavares, who roofed a wrist shot for his sixth goal of the season and first since Nov. 3, a span of 10 games.
"It was about time. I've had some chances," Tavares said. "I'm counted on to produce. Great play by [Josh Bailey]. I almost had too much time, but I was able to read the goalie and I was able to pick the corner. I'll try to build on it."

Save of the game

With the game tied midway through the third period, Elliott managed to get his blocker on Shane Prince's wrist shot after Prince was sent in on a breakaway by Brock Nelson.

Highlight of the game

Tavares drove towards the left circle with the puck, drawing two defenders before going back to the slot, where he sent the backhander on net that Hickey redirected past Elliott.
"I got on the ice and they had a broken stick," Hickey said. "[Prince] did a good job of just holding on to it, and then [Tavares] obviously, he knew what was going on. I think they had to go for a change. He just waited and waited for two guys to come to him. Smart play by him, and I just got a stick on it, turned around and it was in."

Unsung moment of the game

Calgary's group of penalty killers helped send the game to overtime when they did not allow a shot on goal after defenseman Dougie Hamilton took a tripping penalty at 15:09 of the third period. The Islanders went 0-for-4 on the power play.

They said it

"What are you going to do, right? You've just got to keep pushing. Things aren't always going to go your way, [but] you've got to stay resilient, stay positive and keep working towards getting that win." -- Islanders forward Josh Bailey
"We found a way against a good team, a team that works extremely hard. It's a structured team. Two defensive teams tonight. Just by the first period, you knew it was going to be one of those games that you had to be patient and wait for something good to happen." -- Islanders coach Jack Capuano
"I think those guys are battling for each other in that room. We had a good little meeting this morning and tonight. They got off to a good start on this road trip and they wanted to finish it off on a good note. It's disappointing we didn't get two points, but they worked hard for each other." -- Flames coach Glen Gulutzan

Need to know

Monahan's goal was his first in six games. … The Islanders played the third period and overtime with five defensemen after Adam Pelech sustained an upper-body injury late in the second when he was hit hard into the boards by Flames forward Micheal Ferland. Pelech tried to return at the start of the third but was "just a little too sore," according to Capuano. … Islanders center Alan Quine won eight of nine faceoffs.

What's next

Flames: Host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday (8:30 p.m. ET; SN, NHL.TV)
Islanders: Host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, TVA Sports, NHL.TV)