Read the reports of the games played on Monday in the NHL.
Mathew Barzal had the game-winning goal at 8:18 in the second period on Monday as the New York Islanders inflicted a 2-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers.
Left alone at the top of the slot, Barzal fired a shot that earned him his 13e goal of the campaign, after taking a pass from Brock Nelson.
Kyle Palmieri was the other scorer for the Islanders, who have won their last three games.
Palmieri’s goal halted a 0-for-26 power play dearth.
The Islanders have 57 points, as many as the Penguins, holders of the second additional place in view of the series, in the East. Pittsburgh, however, played four fewer games.
Bo Horvat was playing his first game with the Islanders, who recently acquired him from the Vancouver Canucks. He accepted a $68m contract for eight years on Sunday.
Semyon Varlamov made 25 saves. He was only beaten by Nicolas Deslauriers, 2:21 after Barzal’s goal.
The Islanders will play again on Tuesday night at home against Seattle.
The Flyers’ next game is Thursday night at home against Edmonton.
Associated Press
Matthew Tkachuk picks up five points
PHOTO SAM NAVARRO, USA TODAY SPORTS
Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) scores a goal on Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88).
Two days after being voted Most Valuable Player in the National Hockey League All-Star Game on home rink, Matthew Tkachuk had five points, including two goals, and the Florida Panthers crushed the Tampa Bay Lightning 7-1 Monday night.
Tkachuk, who was also named NHL First Star of the Week for his performance in the All-Star Game, was instrumental in the Panthers’ first three goals.
His collection of five points also allowed him to become the fifth player in the NHL to reach the plateau of 70 points this season.
In addition, Tkachuk (27-44-71) erased Jonathan Huberdeau’s mark for the most points in organizational history after the first 50 games of a season.
Last year, Huberdeau had 70 points in 50 games, then he was traded to Calgary for Tkachuk.
Besides Tkachuk, Carter Verhaeghe, a former Lightning, had two goals. Sam Bennett, Eetu Luostarinen and Eric Staal also beat Andrei Vasilevskiy, who faced 49 pucks.
At the other end of the ice, Sergei Bobrovsky, who had not played since an injury suffered at the Bell Center on January 19, saved 32 pucks.
Nikita Kucherov was the only one to thwart his vigilance, early in the second period.
George Richards, Associated Press