Casey Cizikas scored the tie-breaking goal with 2:12 left in the third period to lift the New York Islanders to a 2-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night,
Brock Nelson also scored and Jaroslav Halak stopped 23 shots for the Islanders, who had lost three straight (0-1-2) — including a shootout defeat at New Jersey on Saturday.
New York was without star center John Tavares for the third straight game due to what coach Jack Capuano said was flu-like symptoms.
Travis Zajac had the tying power-play goal for the Devils early in the third period and Cory Schneider finished with 33 saves. New Jersey had won six of its previous seven after an 0-3-1 start.
On the go-ahead score, Brian Strait sent the puck on goal, and it was tipped by Matt Martin before Cizikas jammed the rebound past Schneider.
Zajac tied it at 4:03 of the third. With the Devils on their fourth power play of the game, Kyle Palmieri's shot was blocked and the rebound came to Zajac, who sent it past Halak for his fifth of the season.
The Islanders' Steve Bernier had a slap shot with about 5 1/2 minutes left that was gloved by Schneider.
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Nelson gave the Islanders a 1-0 lead at 7:23 of the first period with his third goal of the season. Marek Zidlicky sent in a shot from the top of the left circle that Schneider stopped, but Nelson poked at the puck and it went in off Schneider's blocker.
NOTES: The Islanders debuted their black Brooklyn-themed alternate uniforms that feature four stripes on the sleeves and legs to represent the team's four Stanley Cup titles. New York, in its first season playing at Brooklyn's Barclays Center, will wear the uniforms in 11 more home games. ... Tavares participated in the morning skate but didn't play again. Capuano wasn't sure if he would play Thursday at Montreal. ... In addition to Tavares — who has a team-high 11 points (5 goals, 6 assists) — the Islanders scratched LW Taylor Beck and G Jean-Francois Berube. LW Eric Boulton and D Thomas Hickey are out with lower-body injuries. ... RW Jiri Tlusty sat out again for the Devils. He took part in the morning skate but coach John Hynes said "he's not ready." ... New Jersey scratched F Stefan Matteau.
