PITTSBURGH (AP) Embattled goaltender Jaroslav Halak is glad to be back and contributing to the New York Islanders’ run to the playoffs.
Slovakian Halak, after spending time in the American Hockey League, won for the first time since December when John Tavares scored in the shootout to lead the Islanders over the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3 in the NHL on Friday night.
”Anytime you win a game, it’s always great,” Halak said. ”I think it’s more special right now after being called up and playing my first game right now in this late stage of the season.”
Anthony Beauvillier opened the shootout with a goal, and Tavares snapped a wrist shot past Marc-Andre Fleury in the next round. Sidney Crosby scored in the shootout for Pittsburgh, but Halak, making his first start since Dec. 29, stopped Phil Kessel and Nick Bonino.
”(Halak) was called on to make some big saves, especially in the shootout,” Tavares said. ”It was good to have him back and great to see him come up and get rewarded.”
Anders Lee scored his 28th goal of the season, while Brock Nelson got his 17th and Casey Cizikas his eighth for the Islanders, who moved into the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
New York is tied with Boston on 82 points, but the Islanders have a game in hand on the Bruins. The Islanders were last in the conference at one point, but now they have 18 wins in 31 games since Doug Weight was named interim coach on Jan. 17, replacing Jack Capuano.
Halak, a former All-Star, is back in the fold after making 37 saves on Friday. He got the nod one day after he was recalled from Bridgeport.
”He looked like Halak when we signed him two years ago,” Weight said. ”He got some things straightened out, he looked confident, he looked aggressive and I think the guys fed off it.”
Crosby extended his NHL lead with his 42nd goal. He is five points behind Edmonton forward Connor McDavid for the NHL scoring lead.
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