Islanders grab 3-goal lead, hang on to edge Senators

Anders Lee, Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Simon Wahlstrom scored over a span of fewer than seven minutes bridging the final two periods for the visiting New York Islanders, who fended off a late comeback by the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night to earn a 4-2 victory.

Bo Horvat, who also had two assists, scored an empty-netter in the final minute for the Islanders, who have won two straight for the first time this season. Goalie Semyon Varlamov made 28 saves.

Nick Jensen and Drake Batherson scored in the third for the Senators, who have lost five of seven (2-5-0). Goalie Anton Forsberg recorded 21 saves.

The teams were locked in a scoreless duel until an impressive tic-tac-toe display led to Lee's goal with 4:11 left in the second. Ryan Pulock got his stick ahead of Artem Zub deep in the Senators' zone and sent the puck off the back boards to Horvat, who sent a no-look pass to Lee before he fired a shot over Forsberg's glove as he was screened by teammate Jake Sanderson.

Pageau, who spent the first seven-plus seasons of his career with the Senators before being dealt to the Islanders in February 2020, doubled the lead with 1:38 remaining. Horvat's pass into the neutral zone glanced off Sanderson and Pageau got control of the puck with his stick before beating Forsberg stick side.

A turnover by Forsberg led to Wahlstrom's first goal of the season 2:41 into the third. Forsberg's pass off the back boards was picked off by Kyle MacLean, who fed Matt Martin for a point-blank opportunity. Forsberg deflected the puck, which skittered into the crease before Wahlstrom scored on a backhander as Forsberg was screened by Martin and Travis Hamonic.

The Senators began their comeback 5:02 later, when Jensen's shot from the right faceoff circle sailed over Varlamov's glove as he was screened by Giroux and Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson.

A hooking penalty on Brock Nelson generated the power play that led to Batherson's goal with 5:33 left. Tim Stutzle, stationed at the left faceoff circle, passed to Batherson, who was to the right of Varlamov before he carried the puck across the crease and flicked a shot over Varlamov's left leg.

Forsberg was pulled with under two minutes left and the Senators produced two shots before Horvat iced the victory by scoring a nearly length-of-the-ice empty netter with 9.5 seconds remaining.

--Field Level Media