• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Stajan scores late, pushes Flames past Islanders

Feb 7, 2014 - 4:01 AM Uniondale, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Matt Stajan notched the game-winner with 5:32 left in the third, as the Calgary Flames edged the New York Islanders, 4-2, on Thursday at Nassau Coliseum.

With the game tied 2-2 late in the final frame, Stajan lit the lamp from a tough angle on the low right side to put the Flames in front.

Mikael Backlund then buried an empty-netter in the closing seconds to account for the final margin, as the Flames won for the sixth time in their last seven games.

Sean Monahan and Dennis Wideman each scored once, while Reto Berra registered 28 saves for Calgary, which snapped a four-game road losing streak.

"Reto was simply outstanding," Calgary head coach Bob Hartley said of his netminder. "He was the guy that kept us in the game and gave us a chance to come back."

Thomas Hickey and Calvin de Haan recorded a goal apiece, while Evgeni Nabokov allowed three goals on 21 shots for the Islanders, who have lost six of their last seven games.

"They got pucks to the net and we didn't," Islanders head coach Jack Capuano said of the difference in the game. "We passed up a lot of chances."

Following a scoreless first period, Monahan gave the Flames a 1-0 lead with 5:45 left in the second, swatting a bouncing puck past Nabokov from the slot.

Wideman made it 2-0 with his power-play goal at the 18:08 mark, beating Nabokov high to the glove side with a wicked wrister from the left circle.

Hickey buried a rebound from the low left side with 6.1 seconds left in the second to get New York within a goal before da Haan notched the equalizer 7:31 into the third when he picked up a loose puck in the left circle and ripped a wrister past Berra.

With nearly 5 1/2 minutes to play, Stajan got to a rebound near the goal line on the low right side and flipped a shot on net that snuck past Nabokov, who appeared to be interfered with by a Calgary skater.

No call was made on the play, and despite going on the power play with 3:09 remaining, the Islanders were unable to pull even.

Game Notes

De Haan's goal was his first since Jan. 7 ... New York's John Tavares tallied his 42nd assist of the season ... Calgary improved to 10-14-4 on the road, while New York fell to 8-13-8 at home this season ... The Flames will visit Philadelphia on Saturday for their final game before the Olympic break ... The Islanders will welcome Colorado on Saturday before their two-week hiatus ... New York went 0-for-5 on the power play.