Both the New York Islanders and Ottawa Senators got what they wanted out of their game against each other Tuesday night. But each team will be looking for even more Thursday night, when Ottawa hosts New York in the back end of a home-and-home set.

The Islanders earned a 5-4 shootout win at Nassau Coliseum on Tuesday, when they squandered a two-goal third-period lead and survived an injury to starting goalie Robin Lehner but escaped with the victory after Jordan Eberle and Mathew Barzal scored on the team's only attempts in the shootout.

The tumultuous victory was a much-needed one for the Islanders (38-21-7, 83 points), who moved back into a tie for first place with the Washington Capitals in the Metropolitan Division by snapping a two-game losing streak and winning for just the third time in the last eight games (3-4-1).

Now the Islanders are focused on playing cleaner games down the stretch. New York and Washington each have 16 games remaining.

"We've got to clean some stuff up in our game, there's no question, but more than anything, getting the two points today (was important)," said Islanders head coach Barry Trotz, who earned the 800th victory of his NHL career. "(The Senators) were coming in here to knock us off. There's a little more anxiety. They're playing free right now, there's a little more anxiety for us to win games right now. So that's a different feel when you're expected to do something." >> Read more

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