Islanders lose to Devils, continue slide in East race

UNIONDALE, N.Y. --The New York Islanders lost ground again in the MassMutual East Division with a 2-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils at Nassau Coliseum on Thursday.

Anthony Beauvillier scored for the Islanders (31-17-6), who have lost three in a row and fell three points behind the Boston Bruins for third place in the division with two games remaining. Semyon Varlamov made 23 saves.
"We've just got to get back to a little bit to our identity," New York coach Barry Trotz said. "… I fully understand where I think we are in the sense of getting to the playoffs, and everybody wants to take a little bit of an exhale and take a breather, but we can't put it in park. Some guys have parked their games where you think you can just turn it up."
Mackenzie Blackwood made 32 saves for the Devils (19-28-7), who have won five of six.
The teams play again here Saturday.
"I thought we created energy right off the bat," New Jersey coach Lindy Ruff said. "It was a hard-fought game. I thought both teams played well. I liked our effort."
Pavel Zacha gave the Devils a 1-0 lead with a one-timer in front off a pass from Jesper Bratt at 14:11 of the first period. It was Zacha's sixth goal in seven games.
Beauvillier tied it 1-1 at 5:35 of the second period when Scott Mayfield's attempted pass from the right circle redirected off his skate.
"I think our line's (Beauvillier, Brock Nelson, Josh Bailey) playing well," said Beauvillier, who has scored seven goals in his past nine games. "I think we're making plays and obviously getting chances. I think that's the key the past few games."

Michael McLeod one-timed a cross-ice pass from Damon Severson just inside the right post to give New Jersey a 2-1 lead at 15:31 of the second period.
"We're playing some good hockey as of late, beating some pretty big teams that could go pretty far in the playoffs," McLeod said. "That's huge for us heading into the offseason, just getting that confidence as a team that we can beat these teams. If we play the right way, we're going to get the results we want."
The Islanders outshot the Devils 13-5 in the third period but failed to generate enough high-quality opportunities against Blackwood, who has won his past five starts.
"We've passed up a lot of chances," Trotz said. "A 2-on-1 where we don't even get a shot, or we don't execute on a play and you get nothing out of it. We've got to be better, we've got to execute better. We've got to wrap our minds around getting prepared for the playoffs, not just waiting for it, because it's not a switch."
It was the first game against the Devils for forwards Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac since being traded to the Islanders on April 7. Palmieri has scored one goal in 15 games for New York, and Zajac has scored one goal in 12 games.
"I came in here and obviously want to try and find a way to fit in and contribute," Palmieri said. "I think there's been games where I've felt good and brought some positive things out of it, but it's hard to find that right now. It hasn't exactly gone the way I hoped, but right now I'm focused on trying to get better every day and being a good teammate along the way and showing up and just working.
"I think as a group we're excited to try and find our game here the next two games, and we're really looking forward to getting into playoff hockey."
NOTES:Devils forward Jesper Boqvist left with 1:11 remaining after being struck in the face by a stick. "Maybe just a bloody nose. I'm hoping that's all," Ruff said. … New Jersey forward Miles Wood did not play because of an upper-body injury. He is day to day. Wood was replaced by forward Tyce Thompson, who had one shot in 10:24. … Beauvillier extended his point streak to five games (five goals, one assist). … Islanders center Mathew Barzal had one shot and was minus-1 in 21:37 of ice time after being a healthy scratch at the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday. … Forwards Jordan Eberle and Leo Komarov, and defenseman Andy Greene were healthy scratches for New York. Trotz said he is trying to keep players fresh for the playoffs.