Tavares scores twice to lead Islanders past Flames 2-1

New York Islanders goalie Jaroslav Halak, left, from Slovakia, blocks the net as Calgary Flames' Brandon Bollig chases the puck during first-period NHL hockey gme action in Calgary, Alberta, Friday, Jan. 2, 2015. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jeff McIntosh) (The Associated Press)

New York Islanders' Cal Clutterbuck (15) checks Calgary Flames' Matt Stajan during second-period NHL hockey gme action in Calgary, Alberta, Friday, Jan. 2, 2015. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jeff McIntosh) (The Associated Press)

CALGARY, Alberta – John Tavares scored twice to lead the New York Islanders to their third straight victory, 2-1 over the Calgary Flames on Friday night.

After Tavares opened the scoring eight minutes into the game, the score remained 1-0 until 12:16 of the third period when Tavares got the puck in the slot, fended off Deryk Engelland and fired his team-leading 17th goal through the pads of Jonas Hiller.

The Flames got a goal from Johnny Gaudreau with 3:25 left in the third period to get back within one, but could not tie it against Jaroslav Halak, who had 22 saves to win his seventh straight game and improve to 21-6-0.

New York (26-11-1) improved to 7-1-1 in its last nine games and kept pace with Pittsburgh atop the Metropolitan Division.