Palmieri, Islanders pad East wild card lead with win against Devils

ELMONT, N.Y. --Kyle Palmieri had two goals and an assist for the New York Islanders in a 5-1 win against the New Jersey Devils at UBS Arena on Monday.

Palmieri broke a tie in the second period, then extended New York's lead in the third period. He has five goals in his past six games.
"It feels good to contribute [offensively]," Palmieri said. "Our line as a whole (with Pierre Engvall and Brock Nelson), and our team, is playing well. We just [have] to keep that going."
Engvall scored, and Ilya Sorokin made 30 saves for the Islanders (38-28-9), who lost their previous two games (0-1-1) but moved three points ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins for the first wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference.
"To a man, everybody worked; there wasn't any passengers," New York coach Lane Lambert said. "Certainly, full marks to our guys for the effort they put in."

Erik Haula scored for the Devils (46-20-8), who have lost three of four (1-2-1). Vitek Vanecek made 31 saves.
New Jersey is second in the Metropolitan Division and remained three points behind the Carolina Hurricanes.
"We knew coming into this game obviously they're fighting for a playoff spot, so they're desperate," Devils forward Timo Meier said. "I thought over the full game they won more battles, they were harder on pucks, and that's what cost us the game.
"We've got to find a way to get that next gear. We've got some important games getting ready for the most important time of the year, so I think it's important for us that we can get our game to another level."
Engvall gave New York a 1-0 lead at 7:37 of the first period on a rebound after Vanecek made a save against Palmieri, who skated in alone after New Jersey defenseman Ryan Graves fell in the neutral zone.

Haula tied it 1-1 with a short-handed goal at 6:15 of the second period, flipping a backhand past Sorokin after Nelson's attempted pass for Noah Dobson hopped over the blue line.
Palmieri put the Islanders back in front 2-1 at 14:21. He skated around the net with the puck before scoring with a backhand in the left circle.
"It was a long time to have the puck on my backhand, was what I was thinking," Palmieri said. "I wanted Pierre right away. I saw [Nelson] come through the slot, and for some reason it was still on my backhand. [I] found some space and [shot] it."
New York outshot New Jersey 17-8 in the second.
"Our goaltender played pretty well," Haula said. "Second period, they were peppering us. … [Vanecek] held them just one [goal] in the second. He made a lot of good saves."
Tomas Tatar had a goal disallowed for the Devils at 8:51 of the third period when it was ruled he used a distinct kicking motion to put the puck past Sorokin.
"They said it was kicked in," New Jersey coach Lindy Ruff said. I don't believe it [was]. Tomas said he didn't even see it; he was just hitting the brakes going to the goal, so that's a determination the League makes.
"There's nothing I can do. It's no use complaining about it. But I think if you look at some of the goals that they've allowed this year, I think that fits that category."
Palmieri made it 3-1 at 15:25 with a wrist shot after New Jersey forward Ondrej Palat backhanded the puck from the corner into the right circle.

The goal came after Devils forward Jack Hughes shot wide on a 2-on-1 with Palat at 11:24.
"I thought Kyle was outstanding tonight," Lambert said. "Strong right from the beginning of the game, playing that power forward kind of game."
Bo Horvat (18:58) and Zach Parise (19:59) each scored into an empty net for the 5-1 final.
Sorokin made 14 saves in the third.
"Obviously we didn't like the results Friday [and] Saturday," Palmieri said, referring to a 5-4 overtime loss at the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday and a 2-0 loss to Buffalo Sabres here Saturday. "We left some points on the table. And we know going into this week it's six, seven games left; it's make or break the rest of the way. It was a good effort tonight and we're happy to get the win."
NOTES: The Islanders have outscored opponents 30-9 in the third period over their past 18 games. … Parise also has five goals in his past six games. … New York defensemen Adam Pelech and Scott Mayfield were each plus-3; Hughes and New Jersey forward Jesper Bratt were each minus-3. … Horvat's goal was his first since Feb. 26 (12 games).