Recap: Dal Colle Crowns Isles Comeback Over Kings

Michael Dal Colle scored the game-winning goal on Saturday night, as the New York Islanders (30-15-6, 66 points) completed a third period comeback to beat the LA Kings (20-27-4, 44 points) 4-2 at NYCB Live.
Dal Colle redirected a Ryan Pulock shot with 2:23 to play, the second of three unanswered goals by the Islanders in the final 6:14 of the third period.
"Emotions are high. That one felt really good," Dal Colle said. "I haven't been that excited in a long time, so that was a nice one to get and a good team win."
With the win, the Islanders extended their point streak to eight games (6-0-2), their longest streak since 2015, and improved to 8-0-0 on the second night of a back-to-back set, tying a franchise record.

ISLES STAGE THIRD PERIOD RALLY:

Saturday night was no gimme for the Islanders, despite the 20-point gulf between the Isles and Kings in the standings.
The Isles were in their second slugfest in as many nights, trading big hits with a heavy Kings squad after playing to a 1-0 shootout loss to Tampa Bay. The Isles were getting frustrated by the Kings at times and a bank shot off Ilya Kovalchuk's skate put the visitors up with 6:45 to play in the third.
But the Islanders found that extra gear that's powered their ascent up to the top of the Metropolitan Division. Thirty-one seconds after Kovalchuk's goal, Mathew Barzal redirected a hard pass from Ryan Pulock at the side of the net to tie the score 2-2.
"Instead of getting discouraged we got determined," Head Coach Barry Trotz said of the rally. "To me, that's a sign of growth for us."

The tying goal fired up an already loud Nassau Coliseum and tilted the ice in the Isles favor. They pulled ahead with 2:23 to play, as Dal Colle redirected a Pulock shot past Jonathan Quick for the game-winner, while Brock Nelson iced it with an empty-netter at 18:29.
Pulock, who broke up a pair of two-on-ones on Friday vs Tampa, had the primary assist on Nelson's empty netter to finish with a game-high three assists.
"We grinded it out," Cal Clutterbuck said. "Going out and responding to a goal scored against you right away and not waiting until the last two minutes so you have to pull your goalie. We just went out there right away and went after it. Fortunate that they went in, but all products of hard work."

CIZIKAS OPENS SCORING:

Casey Cizikas opened the scoring with his 12th goal of the season at 6:09 of the first period. Cizikas dropped the puck to Johnny Boychuk for a one-timer at the point and followed up on the rebound, potting the loose puck behind Quick. The goal capped a tenacious shift by the Isles energy line, with Cal Clutterbuck taking a hit in the corner to free up the puck, while Matt Martin fished it over to Cizikas.
The lead didn't last long however, as Kings leading scorer Anze Kopitar - who was a game-time decision - evened the score at 8:07. The goal was the first even strength marker the Islanders had allowed in five games, the last coming against the New Jersey Devils on Nov. 17.

LEHNER WINS AGAIN:

Fresh off being named the NHL's second star of the month, Robin Lehner picked up right where he left off.
Lehner stopped 34-of-36 shots in the win, improving to 12-1-1 in his last 14 games. Lehner was especially good in the second and third periods, stopping 27-of-28 in the final two frames with only a deflection off a skate getting past him in the third.
Perhaps his best save of the night came in the second, sprawling out to rob Kovalchuk with his arm.

NEXT GAME:

The Islanders head to Boston to take on the Bruins on Tuesday night. Puck drop is at 7 p.m.