Uniondale, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Josh Bailey had a goal and an assist to help the New York Islanders top the Florida Panthers, 4-2, on Tuesday from Nassau Coliseum.
Travis Hamonic, Matt Martin and Mike Halmo also scored for the Islanders, who trailed 1-0 before netting four straight goals. Colin McDonald had two assists in the win.
"Having that two-goal lead going into the third is something we've struggled with all year," said McDonald. "To play the way we did in the third, it was a good effort by us."
Evgeni Nabokov turned away 20-of-22 shots for New York, which won its second straight game and fourth in the last five.
Quinton Howden and Brandon Pirri scored for Florida, while Scott Clemmensen allowed all four goals on 40 shots.
Jonathan Racine made his NHL debut for the Panthers.
"I tried to play hard, play my game and do my best on the ice. I was so happy to get the call. I think I did a very good job for my first game," said Racine.
Florida opened the scoring just 1:50 in when Howden's short-handed wrister from the point deflected past Nabokov, but Hamonic scored 45 seconds later to knot it at 1-apiece.
The Islanders tacked on two goals in the second. Bailey and Martin both converted off McDonald rebounds, with Martin's marker at 17:36 proving to be the eventual game-winner.
Halmo added an insurance goal 4:21 into the third period, and Nabokov kept the Panthers off the board until Pirri slipped one in with four seconds left on the contest.
Game Notes
New York had at least 11 shots in all three periods, while the most Florida managed in any stanza was nine in the third ... Florida defenseman Erik Gudbranson got ejected at 17:41 of the first for a misconduct after instigating a fight.
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