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Cizikas lifts Islanders over Senators

Apr 3, 2014 - 5:10 AM Ottawa, ON (SportsNetwork.com) - Casey Cizikas scored the game-winning goal on a power play in the third period as the New York Islanders defeated the Ottawa Senators, 2-1, on Wednesday.

Josh Bailey scored his eighth of the season and added an assist while Ryan Strome had two helpers. Anders Nilsson made 35 saves for the Islanders, who have won three straight and have picked up a point in each of their past six games.

"It was a good road win. It wasn't our best game we've had in a little while, but everyone bared down when it mattered, we had some timely saves and found a way to get a power-play goal late," said Bailey.

Milan Michalek supplied Ottawa's lone goal. Craig Anderson turned aside 25 shots as Ottawa's three-game winning streak came to an end.

"They scored on two power plays tonight. We have to be better on the penalty kill and do better with the chances they give to us," said Michalek.

The Senators remain five points behind the inactive Columbus Blue Jackets for the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.

Less than five minutes into the game, Cal Clutterbuck went in on a short- handed breakaway, but Anderson calmly turned aside his wrist shot with a pad save. Moments later, Anderson lost his stick, but stayed focus to make a diving stop at the side of the net, denying Johan Sundstrom of his first NHL goal.

The Islanders opened the scoring with 2:51 left in the first on the power play. After getting set up in the offensive zone, they worked the puck across the point to Ryan Strome in the corner. He dished the puck to Bailey, whose quick wrister from the edge of the left circle beat Anderson.

After a scoreless second, the Senators tied the game during the man advantage at 6:41 of the third. Michalek found the loose puck out of a scrum in front of the net and beat Nilsson with a wrist shot.

Less than two minutes later, Eric Gryba's slashing minor gave the Islanders a power play. Bailey deked in on net from the left circle, drawing Anderson out of his crease, and backhanded a pass from the side of the net into the blue paint. Cizikas was there to finish the play, making it 2-1 with 9:31 gone in the third.

Ottawa pulled Anderson with 52 seconds remaining, but the Senators could not tie the game.

Game Notes

Bailey played in his 400th NHL game ... The Islanders have won three of their last four games against the Senators ... Ottawa Captain Jason Spezza and defenseman Jared Cowen both missed their second consecutive game due to lower body injuries ... Michalek has four goals in his last four games.