Cal Clutterbuck was a game-time decision but ended up having a big impact, scoring twice to help the New York Islanders to a 6-5 win against the Dallas Stars at Barclays Center. Kyle Okposo had two goals and an assist for the Islanders, who scored three times on 20 shots in the second period to break open a 2-2 game. Okposo's three points gave him the team lead with 31, two ahead of captain John Tavares.
Clutterbuck, who sustained an upper-body injury in a 5-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday, left 5:07 into second period after Jason Demers checked him and was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct for boarding. But Clutterbuck returned later and had two important goals. Clutterbuck, who has nine goals this season, praised his teammates for giving him opportunities to score.
Dallas had two one-goal leads in the first period on goals from Vernon Fiddler and Patrick Sharp. The goal was Sharp's 16th, tying his total from last season. He has a nine-game point streak (six goals, six assists).
After Sharp's goal, the Islanders scored four straight to take a 5-2 lead. But the Stars battled back.
Valeri Nichushkin, who didn't play in a 3-2 overtime loss to the New Jersey Devils on Saturday, had two goals and Jason Spezza scored with an extra attacker with 1:42 left to make it 6-5. Lehtonen allowed six goals on 44 shots for the Stars, who had not lost back-to-back games until this weekend.
Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin, who rank second and third in the League respectively in points, failed to get on the scoresheet. Dallas, which had not lost back-to-back games this season, continues their tour of the New York metropolitan area on Tuesday against the New York Rangers.
New York got a four-minute power play midway through the first period after Jamie Benn was called for high sticking. During the man-advantage, Anders Lee took a pass from Okposo on the left side of the net, skated in and tucked the puck under Lehtonen's pads to tie the game 1-1 at 10:34. Lee had six shots on goal in the first period.
Mikhail Grabovski gave the Islanders a 4-2 lead at 15:02 of the second period.
Islanders goalie Thomas Greiss, who was pulled after allowing four goals on 26 shots in a 5-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday, made 36 saves.
Stars Quotes
Lindy Ruff: "I think the guy that got hit [Clutterbuck] has a history of diving. I looked at the play, I don't think [Demers] elbowed him, I don't think he did anything really."
"[Lehtonen] had to face a lot of rubber. He had to face a lot of tough opportunities. I think he stumbled on the first one but after that, you look at some of the point-blank opportunities and some of the plays and you can't blame those on your goaltender. Not at all."
Jamie Benn: "A little adversity. Obviously we didn't want to lose two in a row but we have another big challenge ahead of us in the Rangers. We just have to keep working hard, play the system and your best players have to be your best players."
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