New York pulls within 5 points of an Eastern Conference playoff berth.
By Joe Yerdon / NHL.com Correspondent
BUFFALO, N.Y. — The New York Islanders moved to within five points of the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference with a 4-2 win against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center on Sunday afternoon.
Anders Lee scored twice in the third period and Jaroslav Halak made 35 saves for the Islanders (37-29-12), who trail the Ottawa Senators for the second wild card berth. Ottawa has one game in hand.
The Islanders have won two straight games and have four games remaining.
Lee gave the Islanders a 3-2 lead at 9:19 of the third period when he picked up a loose puck and took a shot from the high slot that beat Sabres goalie Robin Lehner. Lee scored his second goal, and 31st of the season, at 14:33 with a backhand shot past Lehner after a turnover by Jake McCabe.
The Sabres (32-34-12) have lost two straight games.
Cal Clutterbuck gave the Islanders a 1-0 lead at 9:31 of the first period. He received a pass from Nick Leddy and skated up the right wing and took a shot that beat Robin Lehner for his fifth goal.
Evander Kane made it 1-1 at 10:08 of the second period with his 27th goal. Kane took a pass from rookie C.J. Smith and beat Halak with a shot to the blocker side. Smith’s assist was his first NHL point after he signed with Buffalo on Thursday.
Joshua Ho-Sang gave the Islanders a 2-1 lead 56 seconds after Kane’s goal. Ho-Sang took a pass from Dennis Seidenberg and skated past the Sabres defense before he deked and slipped the puck past Lehner for his fourth goal.
Zemgus Girgensons made it 2-2 at 5:17 of the third period. Girgensons received a pass from Matt Moulson and tipped the puck past Halak for his goal.
*EDITOR’S NOTE — The Gionta brothers of Greece played against one another today with younger brother Stephen competing for the Islanders while older brother Brian is captain of the Sabres…Spencerport native Shane Prince also plays for the Islanders.