Islanders score big win over Lightning to maintain pace in playoff chase

The Islanders had to win to keep up in the playoff chase.

They responded with one of their most determined efforts of the season, 6-1 over the worn-down and injured Lightning on Thursday night at UBS Arena.

“I think you hit the nail on the head,” said Bo Horvat, who capped the scoring with 18.2 seconds remaining and also set up Simon Holmstrom’s third-period goal with a gorgeous backhand feed. “We were determined. Everyone knew what was at stake and we’re playing against a really good hockey team.

“We’ve got to bring that mindset to every game in the final stretch. All the teams that we wanted to lose tonight, won. Thankfully, we won. Fate’s in our hands.”

Brock Nelson had a goal and two assists in a four-goal second period for the Islanders (40-30-9) and Ilya Sorokin made 30 saves after being pulled for the first time this season in Saturday’s 5-0 road loss to the Lightning. That included a breakaway save on Ross Colton in the first period and two shorthanded breakaway saves on Pierre-Edouard Bellemare in the second.

It was a welcomed turnaround from their recently-completed 1-2-0 road trip in which they scored just two goals, including Sunday’s 2-1 loss to the Hurricanes in which they generated just 22 shots.

Brian Elliott stopped 35 shots for the Lightning (45-28-6) on Thursday as they came off Wednesday’s 6-3 road loss to the Rangers that featured a combined 70 penalty minutes and three figthts.

The Islanders took 10 of the game’s first 11 shots and held a 13-3 advantage after the first period even though neither team scored.

“We just know what’s on the line,” defenseman Ryan Pulock said. “We’re fighting for our lives here. We’re fighting for a chance to get into the playoffs. We came off the road, a couple of tough losses. We had a few days to regroup and get some practice. Guys were in a good spot mentally and physically. It was one step and we have to continue to do that.”

The Islanders retained the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot, even in points and games with the Panthers, who have one more regulation win after routing the Senators 7-2 on Thursday. The Penguins, who beat the Wild 4-1, are one point back and have also played 79 games.

The Islanders finish with home games against the Flyers and Canadiens and a road game against the Capitals, none of those three headed to the playoffs.

The Penguins also finish against three teams that will miss the postseason as they play in Detroit and Columbus and host Chicago. The Panthers, who have won five straight, conclude their season with a road game against the Capitals and home games against the Maple Leafs and Hurricanes, both who have clinched a playoff berth.

The Islanders led by one when the game seemed to turn at 9:00 of the second period as the Lightning lost key bottom-six forward Tanner Jeannot to a nasty right leg injury. Nelson made it 2-0 just 54 seconds later off rookie defenseman Samuel Bolduc’s first career assist and Kyle Palmieri made it 3-0 at 10:43 off Nelson’s feed.

“I thought we followed energy each and every shift,” Nelson said.

The Lightning also lost Pat Maroon at 18:00 of the second period. Anthony Cirelli, Brandon Hagel and defenseman Erik Cernak all were out, too.

Nelson also set up Ryan Pulock’s rising shot with 19.7 seconds remaining in the second period for a 4-1 lead after Nikita Kucherov scored the Lightning’s lone goal at 16:47.

Defenseman Adam Pelech’s career-high sixth goal opened the scoring at 3:46 of the second period.

By Andrew Gross

andrew.gross@newsday.comAGrossNewsday

Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.