Barzal, Islanders recover to top Red Wings

UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- Mathew Barzal had a goal and an assist and scored in the shootout to help the New York Islanders to a 4-3 win against the Detroit Red Wings at Nassau Coliseum on Saturday.

Barzal's shootout winner came after Thomas Vanek tied it 3-3 with 1:03 remaining, tapping in a pass from Andreas Athanasiou into an open net.
WATCH: [All Red Wings vs. Islanders highlights]
Anthony Beauvillier and Casey Cizikas scored for New York (15-12-4), which went 1-for-6 on the power play. Thomas Greiss made 18 saves, including six in overtime and all three in the shootout.

The Islanders went 1-1-1 on a three-game homestand and will plays six of their next seven on the road, including a four-game trip that begins Monday.
"It's huge," Barzal said. "I think if we had lost tonight, it would have been really upsetting going into this tough road trip. For us to kind of get a big win tonight, it really helps."
Vanek had a goal and two assists, and Jonathan Bernier made 45 saves for Detroit (14-15-5), which has lost four of its past five.
"He's played in hard games, for sure," Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said of Bernier, who is 4-8-1 this season. "I think his play is way better than his numbers, and I think he's been around long enough to know not to worry about the numbers, just to worry about his play. If he keeps playing like this, I think it finds its way to even out over the course of a season. He's played very good, gave us a chance to win the hockey game tonight, gave us a chance to get a point."

Gustav Nyqvist gave the Red Wings a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal 5:03 into the first period when he took a pass from Dylan Larkin and scored on a one-timer.
Beauvillier scored for the third straight game at 11:05 on a 2-on-1 with Barzal to tie it 1-1.
"[Barzal's] been playing really well lately," Beauvillier said. "[Josh Bailey] is just a smart player, making the smart plays. I kind of knew [Barzal] was going to look for a pass on the 2-on-1 there. Obviously, a great play from him."
Trevor Daley gave the Red Wings a 2-1 lead at 19:47 when his redirection of Tyler Bertuzzi's pass got between Greiss' skates and trickled over the goal line. The initial call on the ice was no goal but was reversed after video review.
Barzal tied it 2-2 on New York's sixth power play when he collected a loose puck at the left side of the crease and roofed it over Bernier at 11:03 of the third period.
"It's obviously frustrating, being the guy on the power play, just feeling like you're letting the guys down and stuff," Barzal said. "It's just a huge goal to score there. Hopefully we can get on a streak here."

Shortly after Greiss made a save against Athanasiou on a breakaway to keep the game tied, Cizikas gave the Islanders their first lead when he put his own rebound past Bernier at 13:56 to make it 3-2.
"It's exciting. I get to those dirty areas," Cizikas said. "My dad texts me every single day before games and he goes, 'Go to the front of the net.' It's been working so far this year, so I'm going to continue doing it."
Vanek's goal to tie it was his first since Nov. 28, and fourth in 26 games this season.
"I'm here to help out these young guys," Vanek said. "If they see me pouting around and not smiling, having fun, then that's going to have a bad effect on them.
"I'm a pro. I've got to come in here and I know I've got to be better. Just work each and every day and be positive and hopefully it's going to come again."

They said it

"It was great. The atmosphere was outstanding. It's fun. I'm sure it's a lot more fun for these guys to be here. Even for a visiting team, it's great. It pumps you up. … There's a lot of energy. At the end of the night, you get it somehow to a shootout, you want those two points. But one's better than nothing." -- Red Wings forward Thomas Vanek
"I think just from a mental aspect, you had to get that one, one way or another. We did, and that's the thing that you want. At the end of the day, it's two huge points and it's a team that's chasing you, right with you. We didn't let anybody jump over us tonight."-- Islanders coach Barry Trotz

Need to know

Larkin extended his point streak to seven games (four goals, six assists). … Barzal has six points (one goal, five assists) in a four-game point streak. … Islanders forward Joshua Ho-Sang had two shots in 12:24 of ice time in his season debut; he was leading Bridgeport of the American Hockey League with 22 points (two goals, 20 assists) in 26 games before being promoted on Dec. 9.

What's next

Red Wings:At the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, NBCSP, FS-D, NHL.TV)
Islanders:At the Colorado Avalanche on Monday (9 p.m. ET; ALT, MSG+, NHL.TV)