ELMONT, N.Y. — More than four months ago, the Islanders beat the Jets in Winnipeg for their second straight regulation win.
But that was the last time they strung together consecutive wins in regulation until Friday night, when the Islanders beat the Jets again, 5-2, at UBS Arena. They were coming off a dominating 6-0 win over the visiting Blue Jackets on Thursday night and got Mathew Barzal and defensemen Zdeno Chara back into the lineup after each missed six games with an injury.
It may be too little, too late to pull the Islanders (23-24-8) back into playoff position as Friday’s win moved them within 18 points of the Capitals for the Eastern Conference’s final wild-card spot.
But Islanders president and general manager Lou Lamoriello has decisions to make before the NHL trade deadline and the better his team performs, the more trade value some of his players may have.
For instance, goalie Semyon Varlamov, who made 27 saves in his second straight solid performance as he is again seeing more regular playing time after Ilya Sorokin, the clear No. 1 netminder now, started 11 of 13 games. Varlamov had a season-high 44 saves in Monday’s 5-4 loss to the Avalanche and may be the Islanders’ most valuable trade asset with several playoff contenders needing goalie help.
Or Josh Bailey, who had his first two-goal game of the season to extend his goal streak to two games for the first time this season. Bailey’s rebound goal put the Islanders ahead 4-2 at 7:14 of the third period as he increased his goal total to six.
Or impending unrestricted free agent Cal Clutterbuck, whose empty-net goal made it 5-2 at 15:16 of the third period.
Then again, no white flag has been officially waved, so winning streaks — however rare — are welcome. The Islanders’ last winning streak was three games from Jan. 17-21.
"Sometimes it’s opponent based, sometimes it’s energy based," coach Barry Trotz said of the Islanders’ lack of winning streaks. "Certain opposition gives us a little more difficulty than others."
Blake Wheeler’s video-reviewed goal at the crease brought the Jets within 3-2 just 20 seconds into the third period.
The Islanders took control with two goals within 40 seconds early in the second period.
Bailey made it 2-1 at 1:09 as he followed his own shot to the crease to knock in the rebound at the left post.
Anders Lee, who notched his first career hat trick against the Blue Jackets, made it 3-1 at 1:49 with his sixth goal in three games as he lifted the puck at the right post. Lee then skated to the glass behind the Jets’ net to acknowledge Islanders co-owner Jon Ledecky.
Friday marked the one-year anniversary of Lee tearing his right anterior cruciate ligament against the Devils at Nassau Coliseum.
"There’s lingering things that come with it," Lee said. "The strength is there. The confidence is there. It’s one of those things that’s not going to feel like it’s completely gone for a little bit."
The Islanders took a 1-0 lead on Brock Nelson’s power-play one-timer from the right off Anthony Beauvillier’s circle-to-circle feed at 6:38 of the first period.
It gave Nelson, who scored his team-high 23rd goal, a four-game goal streak and a five-game point streak.
But the Islanders top defense pairing of Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock got caught in the offensive zone — Pulock after his slap shot from the right point was stopped — and Nikolaj Ehlers fed Kyle Connor on a two-on-none to tie the game at 1 at 16:58.
Connor Hellebuyck made 34 saves for the Jets (26-28-10), who beat the host Devils, 2-1, on Thursday
