Islanders score 5 in 2nd, rally past Panthers to climb in playoff race

Brayden Schenn had a goal and two assists, Marc Gatcomb, Simon Holmstrom, Emil Heineman and Casey Cizikas also scored, and Ilya Sorokin made 17 saves for the Islanders (4-27-5), who have won three of their last four games. 

The Islanders, with 89 points, moved one point ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins for second place in the Metropolitan Division.  The Penguins face the Dallas Stars at 5 p.m. ET on Saturday. 

Matthew Schaefer had two assists for the Islanders, giving him 56 points on the season, which is tied for most by a rookie defenseman in Islanders history with Stefan Persson. 

Matthew Tkachuk scored twice for the Panthers (35-34-3), who have lost six of their last seven games (1-5-1). Daniil Tarasov made 35 saves.

Tkachuk beat Sorokin on a breakaway at 8:06 to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead.

Tkachuk gave the Panthers a 2-0 lead at 14:03 of the first. Scott Mayfield and Ondrej Palat collided in the slot before Tkachuk jumped on the loose puck, going between the legs for a top-shelf finish. 

Gatcomb started the Islanders barrage at 5:28 of the second. Off the rush, Gatcomb’s wrist shot from inside the right circle banked off Tarasov’s glove and through his legs to make it a 2-1 game. 

Schenn tied the game at 2-2 after he beat Tarasov glove side from the slot off the rush at 12:06 of the second. 

Holmstrom scored on the power play to give the Islanders a 3-2 lead at 14:52 of the second, beating a screened Tarasov glove side. 

Heineman extended the Islanders’ lead to 4-2 at the 17-minute mark of the second. Anders Lee found him cutting in from the Islanders bench before he beat Tarasov glove side with a one-time finish. 

Cizikas scored to give the Islanders a 5-2 lead at 17:57 of the second. After his first try was denied, Cizikas buried the rebound from the top of the crease.