Anders Lee scored two power-play goals to lead the New York Islanders to a 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday night.
John Tavares had a goal and an assist, Jason Chimera also scored and Jean-Francois Berube stopped 34 shots to earn his first win in his third start of the season for the Islanders. New York, which won its third straight and fourth in the last five games, came in with back-to-back shutouts.
Drew Doughty had a goal and an assist, and Jeff Carter also scored for Los Angeles, which lost its third straight. Peter Budaj finished with 32 saves.
After Los Angeles scored twice early in the third period to tie it, Lee put the Islanders ahead for good at 9:31, deflecting a slap shot by Nick Leddy past Budaj for his 17th of the season. That gave Lee four goals in two games against the Kings this season.
Tavares added a power-play empty-netter with 44 seconds to go, giving him eight goals and 10 points in his last five games.
Islanders interim coach Doug Weight improved to 2-0-0 since replacing the fired Jack Capuano earlier this week.
Trailing 2-0 after two periods, Los Angeles got on the scoreboard 37 seconds into the third, ending the Islanders' shutout streak at 166:44. On a rush during a power play, Anze Kopitar brought the puck into the offensive zone and dropped a pass to Doughty, who fired a shot that was stopped by Berube. However, Carter backhanded the rebound for his 24th of the season and 20th goal and 46th point in 46 games against the Islanders.
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The Kings tied it about 3 1/2 minutes later, capitalizing on a turnover by Leddy. Los Angeles swung the puck around to Doughty and he fired a shot from beyond the right circle that appeared to deflect in off Leddy's skate for his eighth.
Berube was tested several times in the second period. Doughty sent a hard snap shot from inside the blue line, but the goalie gloved it 43 seconds in. Carter was forced to the right side by Adam Pelech about a minute later and his wrist shot was also gloved by Berube. Tanner Pearson took the puck from Brock Nelson, but Berube stopped a one-timer by Dustin Brown at 4:40.
Lee doubled the Islanders' lead at 7:09, just 50 seconds after the Kings' Jake Muzzin was sent off for hooking. Tavares fired a shot from the left circle and Lee stuffed in the rebound from the left side.
Chimera got the Islanders on the scoreboard with a fluky goal. He brought the puck up the left side and sent it at the goal from the left faceoff circle. The puck hit Budaj's mask and fell down and crossed the goal line 2 1/2 minutes into the game for Chimera's ninth of the season and fourth in the last five games. It came on New York's first shot.
NOTES: The Kings, coming off a 3-4-0 homestand, opened a stretch with nine of 10 on the road. ... Los Angeles fell to 8-15-2 when giving up the first goal and 2-17-1 when trailing after two periods. ... Lee had one goal in his first 18 games of the season. He has 16 in 26 games since, starting with a two-goal effort in the Islanders' 4-2 loss at Los Angeles on Nov. 23. ... Berube was drafted by the Kings in 2009 and spent six seasons in the organization before being claimed off waivers by the Islanders in October 2015. ... The Islanders improved to 15-5-5 when scoring first and 15-0-3 when leading after two periods.
UP NEXT
Kings: At the New York Rangers on Monday night in the second game of a five-game trip.
Islanders: Host the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday night in the third game of a six-game homestand.
