Final
Islanders use quick strikes to take down Blackhawks
Dec 14, 2014 - 5:03 AM Uniondale, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Kyle Okposo and Lubomir Visnovsky tallied 51 seconds apart midway through the third period and the New York Islanders brought the Chicago Blackhawks' win streak to an end thanks to a 3-2 final at Nassau Coliseum.Cal Clutterbuck added a second-period strike for the Islanders, who put the brakes on a three-game skid. Jaroslav Halak turned aside 23 shots for the win.
Dan Carcillo and Patrick Kane scored for the Blackhawks, who had won eight in a row since Nov. 26 to reach the top of the Central Division. Scott Darling took the loss despite making 38 saves.
"Sometimes maybe you think you're a little bit better than you really are. This is definitely a wakeup call," Kane admitted.
Kane beat Halak with 3:46 played in the third period and Chicago was back in front, but the Islanders countered twice in a span of 51 seconds to procure their winning margin.
First, it was Okposo, who was alone at the left side to flip home a John Tavares rebound on the power play at 10:10 to tie the game, 2-2. Then, Visnovsky was allowed free rein to cross from the right wing into the middle of the ice and scored from between the circles at 11:01.
Darling was pulled for an extra skater in the final 1:22, but the visitors had no answer.
"I told our guys, 'We've got to get that attitude, we've got to get the swagger back in our game.' And I think we did that," Isles head coach Jack Capuano said. "If we do the right things, we can compete with anybody."
Carcillo snapped the scoreless tie at 14:25 of the second with a shot that fluttered in the air, hit Halak in the rear and bounced in, but the hosts countered only six seconds later.
'Hawks defenseman Duncan Keith made a horrendous turnover deep in his zone, and a forechecking Clutterbuck gathered the puck and scored in tight.
Game Notes
Visnovsky hadn't scored since Oct. 25 against Dallas, his only other score this season ... The Blackhawks host Calgary on Sunday, while the Islanders welcome New Jersey on Monday.
- CHICAGO: 1
NEW YORK: 1
End of 1st
Dec 27 3:39 PM - CHICAGO: 2
NEW YORK: 3
Final
Dec 13 9:29 PM - NY Islanders Goal - Lubomir Visnovsky (2), at 11:01.
Blackhawks 2, Islanders 3 3rd - 8:59Dec 13 9:12 PM - CHICAGO: 1
NEW YORK: 1
End of 2nd
Dec 13 8:36 PM - NY Islanders Goal - Cal Clutterbuck (4), at 14:31.
Blackhawks 1, Islanders 1 2nd - 5:29Dec 13 8:25 PM - CHICAGO: 0
NEW YORK: 0
End of 1st
Dec 13 7:43 PM - CHICAGO: 0
NEW YORK: 0
1st Period - 20:00
Dec 13 7:10 PM
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