New York Islanders center Brock Nelson, right, reacts after his goal against Detroit Red Wings goaltender Alex Lyon during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
DETROIT (AP) — The New York Islanders found a way to hold on for a win, and even had their first empty-net goal of the season to seal the deal.
Mathew Barzal had a tiebreaking goal with 6:02 left in the third period and Brock Nelson scored twice, lifting New York to a 5-3 victory Thursday night that ended the Detroit Red Wings’ six-game winning streak.
The Islanders have entered the final period with the lead 26 times this season, and have lost seven of those games.
“Everyone makes a big deal of letting leads go, but it happens when you have leads,” New York coach Patrick Roy said. “A one-goal in this league is nothing. Even a two-goal lead in this league is nothing.”
Barzal sent a shot behind goaltender Alex Lyon and banked it into the net to make it 4-3. Patrick Kane had a chance to tie it later in the third, but missed an open net.
In the final minute, Pierre Engvall scored the Islanders’ first empty-net goal of the season.
“It’s been tough just having to grind out those last 30 seconds and not being able to get that exclamation point on a game,” Barzal said.
Nelson broke a scoreless tie midway through the first period and Casey Cizikas scored in the first period to give the Islanders a 2-0 lead.
“When the first goal is a turnover from getting your stick lifted in the slot, we’re not engaged and locked in enough,” Detroit coach Derek Lalonde lamented.
Nelson’s second goal broke a tie early in the third period, giving him a team-leading 27 goals, and Ilya Sorokin finished with 23 saves.
Olli Maatta matched a career high with two goals and Kane tied it at 2 on a slick wrist shot 10 seconds into the third.
Lyon stopped 22 shots for the Red Wings, who lost for the first time in two-plus weeks.
Detroit had won…
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