Nelson, Martin help Islanders beat Senators 3-1
NEW YORK (AP) Brock Nelson and Matt Martin scored 21 seconds apart in the second period and the New York Islanders beat the Ottawa Senators 3-1 Wednesday night to snap a season-high four-game losing streak.
John Tavares also scored in the Islanders' three-goal second period and rookie goalie Jean-Francois Berube, making just his fourth career start, stopped 22 shots.
New York, holding the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, got a needed victory in its playoff push after going 1-4-2 in its previous seven games while getting outscored 22-11.
The Islanders pulled within one point of Pittsburgh for third place in the Metropolitan Division and moved four points ahead of Philadelphia and Detroit, who are tied for the East's second and final wild card.
Mark Stone scored and Andrew Hammond finished with 20 saves for Ottawa, which lost its second straight after winning three of four.
