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With starting goaltender Evgeni Nabokov injured, Bridgeport's Kevin Poulin was recalled on an emergency basis by the Islanders Wednesday.

Less than a week after signing a one-year contract extension with the
Islanders, Nabokov was forced from Tuesday's game against Pittsburgh with a lower-body injury.

Nabokov left the game at the beginning of the third period and was replaced by backup Al Montoya.

The 36-year-old Russian netminder agreed to terms on a one-year deal worth $2.75 million last Wednesday.

Recap | Box score | Photos

What it means: Brad Richards tallied twice, the Rangers erased three one-goal leads and Marian Gaborik delivered the game-winner with less than six seconds left in overtime to beat the Islanders 4-3 and snap a three-game losing streak.

Pair on power play: Richards single-handedly whittled two one-goal leads with his pair of power-play goals Sunday night. Notching his 20th goal of the season with less than two minutes remaining in the first period, the 31-year-old center carried the puck up the ice untouched before firing a shot past Evgeni Nabokov for the Rangers' first power-play goal in five games.

Richards tallied another in the second, beating Nabokov with a slap shot from the left point to tie the game at 2 before Andrew MacDonald's breakaway goal restored the Islanders lead.

Scoreless snapper: For the second time in less than 24 hours, John Tavares snapped a scoreless draw. The third-year center, who opened scoring in the third period of Saturday's 2-1 loss to the Devils, gave the Islanders a 1-0 lead at 10:15 of the first.

In what resulted in an incidental give-and-go, Tavares crashed the net after dishing off to PA Parenteau to bury a rebound for his 28th of the season. Tavares also picked up an assist after springing MacDonald on a breakaway at the end of the second. MacDonald beat Henrik Lundqvist for a 3-2 Islanders lead with 36 seconds remaining in the period.

Spoiled PK: A strong penalty-killing effort was wasted when Matt Moulson tallied his 29th goal of the season with 13 seconds remaining on a four-minute Islanders power-play. The high-sticking double-minor was given to Derek Stepan after the second-year center caught Parenteau under the coach, although coach John Tortorella did not appear to agree with the call. Tortorella was livid on the Rangers bench, presumably because he did not feel the extra two minutes -- awarded when a high-sticking infraction draws blood -- was warranted.

Mats attack: Called up from the minors to replace ailing captain Ryan Callahan (right foot), Mats Zuccarello appeared in his first game for the Rangers in almost five months. The diminutive winger, who has 12 goals and 36 points in 37 games for the AHL's Connecticut Whale, played on the Rangers' first-team power-play unit and skated on a line with John Mitchell and Mike Rupp. He recorded an assist on Richards' second-period power-play goal for his first point this season.

Exacting revenge:Rangers defenseman Stu Bickel got some payback against Islanders brawler Micheal Haley for their last rendezvous, a fight that left Bickel with painful facial fractures back in December. The two dropped the gloves 2:14 into play; it was the Rangers' league-leading 58th fighting major this season.

Newark, NJ – Since snapping a nine-game goalless streak Tuesday, Ilya Kovalchuk appears to be on his way toward starting one in the other direction.

Following his stellar two-point effort in the team’s decisive 4-1 victory against the Rangers Tuesday, Kovalchuk delivered yet another dominant performance Thursday, scoring three goals to record his 13th career hat trick and boost the Devils over the Isles 5-1.

“I got here to score goals and make plays for my team, try to make my team win,” Kovalchuk said. “That’s what I’m doing and right now we feel very comfortable.”

Kovalchuk opened scoring for the Devils for the tenth time this season – burying his own rebound against goaltender Evgeni Nabokov at 8:07 of the first – and went on to notch a goal in each of the remaining two periods as well.

After one-timing a shot from the left circle for a power-play goal at 3:33 of the second, Kovalchuk fired one from the slot in the third for his team-leading 29th of the season and second hat trick in three weeks.

Kovalchuk’s 13 career hat tricks ties him with Rangers sniper Marian Gaborik for third among all active NHL players.

“He’s got the puck all over the ice, defensive zone, offensive zone, neutral zone, he creates things out there, he wants the puck,” said rookie Adam Henrique, who chipped in with two assists. “He’s a game-changer.”

Parise also added two helpers, picking up primary assists on two of Kovalchuk’s goals, including his third of the night to shut the door on the Islanders at 8:09 of the third.

“Any time your linemate gets his second one, you’ve got to do whatever you can to get him the third. He found himself in good spots tonight and we were able to get him the puck. Some great shots…world-class shots,” said Parise, who recorded his 400th NHL point Thursday. “He was really good tonight.”

With four goals in the past two games, the Devils have their top player performing at his peak. And if this is the beginning of a new skein, they’ll be glad to ride it out with 15 games remaining.

Next up is the Islanders --the two teams' third meeting in six days – in Uniondale on Saturday. Will his streak continue?

“Let’s not talk about it,” Kovalchuk said. “We’ll see Saturday.”

Recap | Box score | Photos

What it means: Ilya Kovalchuk has single-handedly boosted the Devils to two straight wins with brilliant back-to-back performances against two of New Jersey's most hated division rivals. Following up on Tuesday's dominant two-point performance that led the Devils past the Rangers 4-1, Kovalchuk recorded his second hat trick in three weeks with three goals in the team's 5-1 victory against the Islanders. The 28-year-old sniper, who halted a nine-game goalless streak Tuesday, is tied with Marian Gaborik for third among active NHL players with 13 career hat tricks. Patrik Elias and David Clarkson also scored for the Devils while defenseman Marek Zidlicky, Zach Parise and Adam Henrique chipped in with two assists apiece.

New streak: Following his nine-game drought, Kovalchuk has tallied four times in the past two games. Burying his own rebound, Kovalchuk gave the Devils a 1-0 lead at 8:07 in the first, then one-timed a shot from the left circle for a power-play goal at 3:33 in the second. Kovalchuk notched his third of the night for his team-leading 29th of the season.

Knuckle-puck: Islanders defenseman Andrew MacDonald sent a fluttering puck from beneath the goal line and banked it off goaltender Martin Brodeur to cut the Devils’ lead in half, 2-1, at 16:21 of the second period. It was the first goal scored by an Islanders defenseman in 13 games.

Nilsson next time? : Perhaps Islanders coach Jack Capuano will go back to goaltender Anders Nilsson when the Islanders host the Devils on Saturday. The rookie netminder made 24 saves to record his first NHL shutout against the Devils Sunday, but backed up Evgeni Nabokov Thursday. Nabokov has given up 12 goals combined in his last three starts.

Surprising scratch: Islanders’ Michael Grabner was a healthy scratch for the first time this season. The 24-year-old winger, who has scored only one goal in the past 19 games, has struggled to replicate the success of his 34-goal rookie campaign. The former Calder Trophy finalist has 15 goals and 10 assists through 67 games this season.

Up Next: Devils @ Islanders, Saturday at 7 p.m.

Josh Bailey tallied twice for the Islanders but the Flyers rallied back from an early deficit for a 6-3 win against their Atlantic Division foes.

Matt Read notched a pair of goals and Claude Giroux chipped in with three assists as the Flyers leapfrogged Ottawa for fifth place in the Eastern Conference.

Goaltender Evgeni Nabokov, who the Islanders refused to part with at Monday's trade deadline, surrendered five goals to Philadelphia. Rookie Sean Couturier's 11th goal of the season was scored on an empty net with less than 27 seconds remaining.

After dropping 26 of 28 games against the Flyers, including 13 straight in Philly, the Islanders aim to record their third straight win at Wells Fargo Center Thursday night.

Dominated by the Flyers in recent years, the Islanders have rebounded to rattle off two straight wins in the City of Brotherly Love. In the two teams' last meeting February 7, goaltender Evgeni Nabokov made 45 saves in regulation and two in the shootout to edge the Islanders' Atlantic Division foes 1-0.

Nabokov is back in net for the Isles Thursday, while rookie Nino Niederreiter is a healthy scratch for the second straight game.

The closest thing to a hockey holiday has arrived, folks.

The NHL's annual trade deadline is Monday at 3 p.m. and I'll be reporting live from ESPN headquarters in Bristol, CT all day. Make sure to follow the ESPN Hockey crew's live chat (starting at 9 a.m.) for all the buzz throughout the day.

NHL TRADE DEADLINE LIVE CHAT

Local storylines to watch:

-- As ESPNNewYork.com reported Sunday, the Rangers appear to be out on the Rick Nash sweepstakes. Barring a drastic change, a deal to bring the Blue Jackets captain to New York appears unlikely.

--Islanders goaltender Evgeni Nabokov is garnering plenty of interest, but GM Garth Snow told ESPNNewYork.com Sunday the he is "not looking" to move him. Talks between Nabokov's camp regarding a contract extension are expected to continue MOnday.

-- Are the Devils done? GM Lou Lamoriello got a head start on Monday's deadline, trading for veteran defenseman Marek Zidlicky Friday. Zidlicky made his debut in the Devils 4-3 loss to Tampa Bay Sunday; could there be any new additions in Monday's lineup when the Rangers host the Devils at Madison Square Garden?

Devils @ Rangers at 6 p.m. ESPNNewYork.com's Mike Mazzeo will be there for all the game-day action...

Also, you can follow each transaction with ESPN NHL's Trade Tracker here.

With teams looking to add goaltending depth, Islanders netminder Evgeni Nabokov has generated some interest as Monday's deadline looms, but he does not appear to be on the block.

"I'm not looking to move him," GM Garth Snow told ESPNNewYork.com via text message Sunday.

As reported earlier this week, Nabokov and the Islanders are in the midst of contract negotiations to re-sign the 36-year-old, who claimed the Islanders' starting job after a rocky road to Long Island that began last January.

Nabokov famously spurned the Islanders when the beleaguered team claimed him off re-entry waivers. The former Vezina Trophy finalist refused to report -- he had originally signed a one-year deal with Detroit before the Islanders snatched him -- and was subsequently suspended.

Snow tolled Nabokov's contract, retaining his rights for the 2011-12 season, and the long-time San Jose Shark changed his tune in training camp this September.

Nabokov, who is playing on a one-year $570,000 deal, is 15-14-0 this season with a .925 save percentage and 2.26 goals against average.

UNIONDALE, N.Y. --- For the first time this season, the Rangers seem to be teetering dangerously close to losing their way.

Strange considering they still hold a seven-point lead in the Eastern Conference standings, but the team’s wayward 4-3 shootout loss to the Islanders reinforced their recent struggles.

Victimized by yet another poor start, the Blueshirts were forced to claw back from an early 2-0 hole to gain a point against the 13th-place Islanders. The dispiriting defeat was the team's third loss in four games.

Despite Monday’s trade deadline looming, coveted forward Rick Nash no longer seems to be the biggest concern.

“We’re one sloppy hockey club right now,” said coach John Tortorella.

Tortorella has been disappointed by the team’s dipping intensity level, and rightfully so. Despite his pleas to adopt a tougher mindset after a string of poor starts, the Ranger surrendered two goals in the first 8:42 of play.

Third-year center John Tavares set up Matt Moulson at 6:07 and former Ranger P.A. Parenteau minutes later as the desperate Islanders mounted a 2-0 edge against their division rivals.

“We talked about what it is to be a Ranger at practice yesterday, what was our team made of ... and I think we tackled it pretty good,” said center Brian Boyle. “But if felt the start wasn’t exactly what we wanted.”

The Rangers ailing power play, scoreless over the previous three games heading into Friday’s match, tallied twice and Marian Gaborik finished with a goal and an assist as the Rangers erased a 3-1 lead in the second on Derek Stepan's second-period equalizer.

But some mental mistakes proved costly -- Michael Del Zotto took a throwing the stick penalty that led to Parenteau’s second goal of the night -- and the Rangers did not have Henrik Lundqvist in goal to bail them out of a tie game in the shootout.

Islanders goaltender Evgeni Nabokov edged Martin Biron in the fourth round, blanking John Mitchell after Moulson’s wrist shot gave the Islanders a 2-1 edge.

Biron has given up three or more goals in his last four starts.

“I battled. I was fighting it a little bit,” Biron said. “I felt better as the game went on, but it’s not exactly where I wanted to be.”

With a prolonged stretch atop the standings, the Rangers are slowly learning the responsibility of first place -- a preferred position, obviously, but one that makes them a clear target for their opposition each night.

It's uncharted territory for a relatively young club that, in recent years, has had to battle its way into a playoff spot during the last week of the season rather than worry about retaining a top seed six weeks out.

“A lot of us haven’t really been in this situation, I guess,” Boyle said. “It’s a challenge, but one we’re ready and willing to accept. We’re going to stand together and obviously try to get through this little blip and start rolling again for the last 23 games.”

This difficult patch has been harder to define for a Rangers squad that has seen its fair of obstacles this season. And it might be the most difficult one they face yet.

“Good teams, good players play well when things are good, but they play even better when they’re fighting that adversity,” Biron said. “There’s desperation for us to stay where we're at and that’s a good place to be.

“Better there than anywhere else.”

At a glance: The Rangers and Islanders square off for the fifth time this season with the Blueshirts holding a 3-1-0 series edge. Losers in two of their past three games, the Eastern Conference-leading Rangers aim to bounce back from a 2-0 shutout loss to Pittsburgh on Tuesday in the first game of a back-to-back set this weekend. The Islanders, desperately holding on to their playoff hopes, have dropped two straight heading into Friday's match.

Back at it: The Rangers kick off their 10th of 14 back-to-back sets this season and they do so with a pretty strong record. New York is 7-0-2 in the first game of the set and 7-1-1 of the second. The Rangers complete the back-to-back with Saturday's match against the Sabres at Madison Square Garden.

Nabokov, Hamonic to return: Both goaltender Evgeni Nabokov and defenseman Travis Hamonic will return to the Islanders' lineup. Nabokov, who has been battling the flu, has not played since Feb. 14. Hamonic, who suffered a broken nose after taking a puck to the face earlier this month, has missed nine straight games.

Power-less play: After a brief surge earlier this month, the Rangers' power play is ailing once again. The 28th-ranked unit is 0-for-12 over the past three games and was blanked seven times alone in the team’s 4-2 loss to Chicago last week.

Cizikas debut: Recalled from Bridgeport (AHL) on Thursday, Casey Cizikas will make his NHL debut against the Islanders bitter rivals. The 20-year-old center, has 15 goals and 29 assists in 51 games for the Sound Tigers this season. Cizikas will replace Josh Bailey, was forced from Tuesday’s game because of back spasms.

Nash watch: Rumored to be the front-runners in the Rick Nash sweepstakes, the Rangers will be keeping a close eye on Columbus with Monday's trade deadline only three days away. The downtrodden Blue Jackets shipped disgruntled center Jeff Carter to L.A. on Thursday night, and Antoine Vermette to Phoenix earlier this week. Could Nash be the next one on the move? The Rangers are also reportedly interested in Kings’ captain Dustin Brown, who is apparently available for the right price.

Both goaltender Evgeni Nabokov and defenseman Travis Hamonic are expected to return to the lineup Friday against the Rangers.

Nabokov has not played since February 14 because of the flu; Hamonic missed the past nine games with a broken nose.

The Islanders returned both netminder Kevin Poulin and defenseman Aaron Ness to Bridgeport (AHL) Thursday.

Bridgeport forward Casey Cizikas was recalled; the 20-year-old center will make his NHL debut if Josh Bailey (back spasms) is unavailable to play.

Barring a miraculous run in the remaining 34 games of the season, the Islanders appear headed for yet another season without playoff hockey. Save for John Tavares’ electric play and another standout year for Matt Moulson, the struggling team looks bound for another Top-5 draft pick. Below are three vital questions for the Isles to answer after the All-Star break.

1. Can they make things interesting?

Following a dreadful first half last season, the Islanders flourished in absence of pressure and picked up their play after the break. Although they still finished 27th in the league, the team was not mathematically eliminated until the last week of the season. Can they show the same fight this year?

2. Will Evgeni Nabokov be traded?

Despite his contentious waiver claim last season, Evgeni Nabokov has moved on to emerge as the Islanders starting goaltender of 2012. The 36-year-old netminder has won four of his last five starts and was named the NHL’s 3rd star last week. Will the Islanders dangle him as trade bait as the deadline nears? Or will they ride him out for the remainder of the season with Al Montoya backing him up?

3. Can Tavares keep this up?

En route to his first All-Star nod, Tavares has put together a stellar 20-goal, 49 point campaign through 48 games. The 21-year-old center, whose league-best 12-game point streak was snapped Monday is on pace for a 33-goal, 51-assist season in his third year pro. Tavares has flourished as the team’s top talent and one of the league’s rising young stars – can he continue to carry the Islanders offense the rest of the season?

Islanders goaltender Evgeni Nabokov has been named the NHL's 3rd star of the week, the team announced.

Nabokov, claimed off waivers by the Islanders last season, has recorded four straight wins for the Islanders, including one shutout against Washington January 17. The 36-year-old Russian has surrendered only two goals in his last three starts.

Although mired at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings for most of the season, the 19-21-6 Islanders -- 6-4-0 over their last ten games -- have clawed themselves into 12th place, nine points removed from the 8th place Capitals.

Riding a three-game winning streak, the team faces a home-and-home set against the Maple Leafs Monday and Tuesday before heading into the All-Star Break.

Islanders goaltending prospect Kevin Poulin has been named the American Hockey League's Player of the Week.

Poulin was 4-0-0 with three straight shutouts during the seven-day period that ended January 8, 2012. He stopped 98 of 100 shots during that span to post a remarkable 0.48 goals against average and .980 save percentage.

The 21-year-old lost six of his seven previous starts heading into the banner week. He has since improved to 11-12-0 in 23 games for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers this season.

Poulin, whose shutout streak ended at 221 minutes, 54 seconds, came within 27:57 minutes of matching the AHL's all-time record set by Johnny Bower with the Cleveland Barons in 1957.

Although Poulin is regarded as the organization's top player in the goaltending pipeline, he has made only one start for the Islanders this season. Fellow Sound Tigers netminder Anders Nilsson has made two starts with the big club, which has rotated among an injury-ravaged squad of Evgeni Nabokov, Rick DiPietro and Al Montoya.

What it means: Speedy rookie Carl Hagelin tallied twice and goaltender Henrik Lundqvist posted his third shutout of the season as the Rangers rattled off their fifth straight win and reclaimed first place in the Eastern Conference. With their 3-0 win over the Islanders on Monday at MSG, the Blueshirts topped their New York rivals for the second time in four days. After handing the Islanders their third straight loss, the Rangers hold a 3-1 edge on the season series.

Sweet setup: Hagelin banked a shot off Islanders goaltender Evgeni Nabokov to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead in the second, but it was Michael Del Zotto who did most of the work. The 21-year-old defenseman made a beautiful move around Islanders center Frans Nielsen to set up Hagelin’s fifth of the season. Del Zotto picked up another helper on Hagelin's third-period marker, tying him with Derek Stepan for the team lead with 17 assists. Del Zotto also leads Rangers defensemen in scoring.

Strong second for Hank: The Islanders didn't record their first shot on goal in the second period until 10:17 into the frame, but Lundqvist was terrific in stopping a barrage of shots during the latter half of the period. Lundqvist received help in front from teammates Brian Boyle and defenseman Anton Stralman, whose last shift of the period culminated with three blocked shots between the two limping players.

Goal streak for Gaborik: With his empty-netter late in the third period, Marian Gaborik extended his goal streak to five games. The 29-year-old sniper, who matched his goals total from last season, leads the league with 22 in 34 games and seven during the team's current five-game winning streak.

Islanders instigating: Fourth-line bruiser Micheal Haley was slapped with 17 penalty minutes after initiating a fight against Rangers defenseman Stu Bickel. Haley received two minutes for instigating, five for fighting and a ten-minute misconduct at 2:20 in the first. The feisty winger did not return to the game as a result of a hand injury suffered in the scrap.

Knocking knees: The Islanders jumped to John Tavares' defense immediately once the 21-year-old center was taken out in an open-ice collision with Rangers defenseman Dan Girardi. Girardi went off for tripping, while Rangers captain Ryan Callahan and Tavares’ linemate PA Parenteau both received roughing minors. Tavares returned for his next shift on the Islanders’ first power-play unit.

Still scratched: Rangers’ extra forwards Sean Avery and Erik Christensen were scratched for their eighth and fourth straight game, respectively. Rangers defenseman Jeff Woywitka sat out his fourth consecutive with a foot injury.

Up next: Rangers at Capitals, Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.