Oilers end three-game losing streak

NEW YORK -- The Edmonton Oilers rebounded from an early two-goal deficit despite losing two forwards in the first period to defeat the New York Islanders 4-3 in a shootout at Barclays Center on Saturday.
Mark Letestu, the third shooter for the Oilers, scored the only goal in the shootout.
Cam Talbot made 30 saves, including four in overtime, and the Oilers (8-3-1) got goals in regulation from Patrick Maroon, Leon Draisaitl and Milan Lucic to end their three-game losing streak and improve to 4-1-1 on the road.

WATCH: All Oilers vs. Islanders highlights
Jesse Puljujarvi (charley horse) and Zack Kassian (lower body) didn't play after the first period. Oilers coach Todd McLellan said each is doubtful to play at the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday.
"You talk about growth, last year in this building [on Feb. 7], 8-1 loss," Letestu said. "This time we come out slow like we did then but found a way to battle back. That shows the growth within the room. A lot of guys in this room were part of that game, but found a way."
The Islanders (4-6-2) gave away a 2-0 lead in the first period and a 3-2 lead in the second to lose their third in a row (0-1-2), including the past two in the shootout. They got goals from Nick Leddy, Shane Prince and Casey Cizikas. Jaroslav Halak made 20 saves.

Islanders defenseman Travis Hamonic didn't play after the first period because of an upper-body injury. Coach Jack Capuano said he would be re-evaluated Sunday.
"It's amazing right now," Capuano said. "We didn't have a minus player on our team tonight. I give the guys credit. They worked extremely hard. They played systematically sound. They gave up 19 shots even strength to a really good hockey team, limited their chances. For whatever reason right now puck luck is not going our way."
The Oilers were down 1-0 after Leddy's goal 13 seconds into the first period and 2-0 after Prince's goal at 5:49. However, Maroon scored at 8:22 on a deflection of Matt Benning's shot from the point, and Draisaitl scored a power-play goal at 12:13.
Cizikas gave the Islanders a 3-2 lead at 11:18 of the second period, but the Oilers again responded with a power-play goal, this time from Lucic at 16:50.
The Oilers were 2-for-3 on the power play and 3-for-3 with two shots allowed on the penalty kill.
"There's a lot of talent on the other side there and for us not to give up a whole lot on the penalty kill was huge," Talbot said. "We did a [heck] of a job battling back and it's going to go a long way for the confidence of our group."

Goal of the game

Letestu came down with speed and didn't waste any time. He saw Halak go for the poke-check, so he quickly pulled the puck back and scored winner with a glove-side forehanded shot.

Save of the game

Talbot kicked out his right skate far enough to make a save on Cal Clutterbuck's backhanded one-timer through traffic off of a pass from John Tavares with 4:05 remaining in regulation.

Highlight of the game

Tavares, exhausted at the end of shift that lasted the final 2:03 of overtime, got the puck in the neutral zone and was one-on-one with Oilers forward Benoit Pouliot. He dangled around Pouliot, going forehand to backhand, before deking back to his forehand for a shot from in front of the crease. Talbot reached out his blocker and got just enough of the puck to send it wide with 15.4 seconds left in overtime.
"It just went off the corner of my blocker, just enough to put it wide," Talbot said. "I didn't think he was going to be able to make another move, but I should have known that that guy can pretty much do whatever he wants."

Unsung moment of the game

Edmonton killed Darnell Nurse's high-sticking penalty at 9:43 of the third period without allowing a shot on goal. The Islanders had one shot attempt. The Oilers cleared the puck down the ice four times and when they got stuck in the zone, they hounded it and didn't allow the Islanders any room to make plays through the slot.

They said it

"The start especially. Last year in this building was kind of a similar script. I think it shows the difference in the two groups the way we forced our way back. Used the power plays to get some momentum, two huge goals. To stick with it, short bench like we had, basically rolling three lines and mixing a guy in, to get it to overtime and give ourselves a chance to get that second point, it was a gutsy effort." -- Oilers forward Mark Letestu

Need to know

Edmonton may recall a forward for the game Sunday. They recalled defenseman Dillon Simpson prior to the game. … Leddy, who is typically paired with Hamonic, played a game-high 24:16, including 17:29 in the second and third periods combined. He played 4:56 in the first before Hamonic was injured.

What's next

Oilers:At the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday (5 p.m. ET; FS-D, SNW, NHL.TV)
Islanders:Home against the Vancouver Canucks on Monday (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, MSG+, SNP, NHL.TV)