ESPN

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.

At a glance: The Rangers limp back to Madison Square Garden to open a seven-game homestand against the Islanders looking to snap a three-game skid that has put their Atlantic Division lead in peril. The Islanders enter Sunday’s match with two straight losses to the Devils, including a heart-breaker Saturday in which they fell victim to a pair of late-game goals by New Jersey to lose 2-1.

Zuccarello recalled: With Ryan Callahan hampered by a bruised right foot and the Rangers desperate for some energy, the team recalled skilled winger Mats Zuccarello from the AHL’s Connecticut Whale. Zuccarello lasted only three games with the Rangers following an impressive training camp, but has averaged almost one point per game since being sent to the minors. The diminuitive forward has 12 goals and 24 assists in 37 games for the Whale this season.

Now Nabokov's turn: After 118:39 scoreless minutes from rookie goaltender Anders Nilsson was spoiled in a late-game rally by New Jersey Saturday, the Islanders will revert back to starter Evgeni Nabokov Sunday. Nabokov has surrendered 12 goals combined over his last three starts and has given up three or more in five of his last six.

Grabner on the mend: After taking a blast from New Jersey’s Ilya Kovalchuk to the right skate Saturday, Islanders forward Michael Grabner returned to the game in the third period of his team's 2-1 loss to New Jersey. Grabner, who played in his first game back Saturday after missing two with the flu and one as a healthy scratch, was on the ice for both Devils goals scored in the last 1:39 of play. According to coach Jack Capuano Grabner will play Sunday while Matt Martin and Casey Cizikas remain sidelined with the flu.

Back in business: After missing two games with sinus issues suffered after a fight with New Jersey’s Ryan Carter Tuesday, Brandon Dubinsky is expected to return to the lineup Sunday. The Rangers also have Callahan (foot) and Michael Del Zotto (hip) battling injuries.

Round two: An emergency recall Saturday with a flu bug rattling the Islanders ranks, bruising Bridgeport forward Micheal Haley could have a rematch waiting as the Islanders face the Eastern Conference-leading Blueshirts. In the two teams’ last meeting December 26 Haley dropped the gloves with Rangers’ defenseman Stu Bickel, who sustained facial injuries in the fight. When asked if expects any retaliation, Haley said: "I think there are a lot of people who can pick out something that I've done to them....fighting's a part of hockey. If it happens, it happens."

Just hours after agreeing to an entry-level contract with the New York Islanders, Owen Sound Attack forward Mike Halmo leveled top junior prospect Nail Yakupov with a vicious hit that had the hockey community abuzz Saturday.

Halmo, a captain for the Attack who leads the team with 40 goals, 44 assists and 158 penalty minutes, drilled Yakupov in the head during the second period of his team's 4-0 loss to the Sarnia Sting. Yakupov, who is projected to go first overall in the 2012 draft, left the game and did not return.

The 20-year-old Halmo, who is likely to face a suspension, was assessed a charging major and game misconduct.

After the game, Sarnia coach Jacques Beaulieu made it clear he was angry with the hit delivered to his star player.

"I thought it was blatantly dirty' Beaulieu said, according to the Canadian Press. "Nail took alot of stitches to the face, it's all marked up. Halmo didn't hit anything else, but his head. We've got to take these hits out of out game and protect our kids."

What it means: The Devils scored two goals in a matter of 14 seconds in the last 1:39 of play to beat the Islanders 2-1 for their third straight win. With rookie netminder Anders Nilsson less than two minutes away from his second straight shutout against New Jersey, David Clarkson squeaked in his 28th of the season to knot the teams at 1. A bad boarding penalty by PA Parenteau led to a Devils power-play soon after and defenseman Marek Zidlicky tallied the game-winner for his first goal of the season and a home-and-home sweep of the Isles.

Tavares tallies against Devils: With his 27th goal of the season, John Tavares snapped a scoreless draw and recorded his first point of the season against the Devils. Burying a beneath-the-goal-line feed from linemate PA Parenteau, Tavares gave the Islanders a 1-0 lead at 6:46 in the third. Heading into Saturday's match, Tavares had only five points (two goals, three assists) in 16 career games against the Devils.

Scoreless streak ended: Tavares' third-period marker ended a lengthy scoreless streak by backup goaltender Johan Hedberg dating back over a month. Hedberg, who blanked the Capitals 5-0 March 2 in his last start prior to Saturday, last gave up a goal to St. Louis' Patrik Berglund February 9 in New Jersey's 4-2 shootout loss to the Blues.

Stingy Swedes: With one scoreless period in the books, both goaltenders made clutch saves to preserve the 0-0 draw through two. Hedberg denied Micheal Haley on a breakaway with 3:13 remaining, while Nilsson made a quick stab to snag Dainius Zubrus' shot from the left circle with 1:16 remaining. The Devils outshot the Islanders 15-7 in the middle frame.

Grabner hurt:Michael Grabner suffered a foot injury early in the third period. Grabner was writhing in pain on the bench after taking Ilya Kovalchuk's slapshot from the bue-line to the right skate; he eventually left the bench and hobbled off to the trainer's room. The 24-year-old has struggled this season to match expectations following a superb rookie campaign in which he recorded 34 goals. Grabner has been limited to only 15 in his second year with the Islanders.

Emergency recall: Bridgeport bruiser Micheal Haley was recalled on an emergency basis for Thursday’s game with both Matt Martin and Casey Cizikas battling the flu. Haley has 14 goals, 8 assists and 101 penalty minutes for Bridgeport this season. Milan Jurcina was a healthy scratch for the Islanders; defenseman Dylan Reese replaced him in the lineup.

Up next: Islanders at Rangers, Sunday at 7 p.m.; Devils vs. Flyers, Sunday at 7 p.m.

At a glance: The Islanders host the Devils in the two teams’ third meeting in six days. Hoping to bounce back from a 4-1 loss to New Jersey Thursday, the Isles return to rookie netminder Anders Nilsson, who recorded his first NHL win and shutout against the Devils last Sunday.

Nilsson in net: After blanking the Devils 1-0 Sunday, Nilsson looks to record his second consecutive NHL win Saturday. The 21-year-old goaltender rebounded nicely following a nightmarish debut back in November, when he was thrown to the wolves in Sidney Crosby’s comeback game, and said he feels “much more comfortable” in his second stint with the big club. Nilsson’s latest recall comes after earning honors as the American Hockey League’s Goaltender of the Month this February.

Swede vs. Swede: Nilsson will face a countryman in goal as he squares off against fellow Swede Johan Hedberg for the Devils. Hedberg, 14-7-2 this season with a .911 save percentage and 2.42 goals against average, earned a win in his last start, a 5-0 rout against the Capitals March 2.

Hot streak: Following a nine-game goal drought, Ilya Kovalchuk is scorching over the past two games. After a dominant two-point effort in Tuesday’s 4-1 win against the Rangers, Kovalchuk recorded his 13th career hat trick to help boost the Devils past the Isles Thursday. Kovalchuk leads the team with 29 goals.

Devil of a time: Conversely, the Islanders’ resident star has struggled to produce against the team's Atlantic Division foes. John Tavares has only five points (two goals, three assists) in 16 career games vs. the Devils, and has been held off the scoresheet in all five games against them this season.

Night off: Limited in Thursday’s game because of the flu, Matt Martin will sit out Saturday’s contest for the Islanders. Defenseman Milan Jurcina will be a healthy scratch; Dylan Reese will replace him in the lineup. Devils winger David Clarkson missed the optional skate this morning for personal reasons, but is expected to play.

After recording his first NHL win and shutout against the Devils Sunday, rookie goaltender Anders Nilsson gets another shot against them Saturday as the Isles host the Devils for the two teams' third meeting in six days.

Nilsson, who made 24 saves to blank New Jersey last weekend, will start in goal for the Islanders, with Evgeni Nabokov backing him up. Nabokov started Thursday in the Isles' 4-1 loss to the Devils; he has surrendered 12 goals over his last three starts.

Nilsson's second NHL start against New Jersey was night-and-day different from his November debut, when he was thrown into net to face Sidney Crosby in his triumphant four-point return. The 21-year-old Swedish netminder said he feels much more confident since.

"I felt a lot more comfortable," Nilsson said. "When I was up here in November, everything was still so new for me. I was still adjusting to the rink and playing here. It was a good learning experience for me to play so I knew what to expect for Sunday night's game."

With Nilsson's Sunday shutout and a busy upcoming schedule for the Islanders, coach Jack Capuano called it "the perfect opportunity" to work him back into the lineup.

"When he played Sunday, he looked a lot more confident, a lot more poised and a lot more aggressive," Capuano said.

Capuano was cryptic about the forwards in his lineup, but did rule Matt Martin out. Martin was battling a bout of the flu that limited him in Thursday's game; he will sit Saturday for an additional day of rest. On defense, Milan Jurcina is a healthy scratch; Dylan Reese will replace him in the lineup.

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.

At a glance: The Devils look to avenge Sunday’s embarrassing 1-0 loss to the Islanders as they host New York for the second of three meetings in one week. Riding high on a decisive 4-1 win against the Rangers Tuesday, the Devils hope to catch the fifth-place Flyers in the Eastern Conference standings while the Islanders try to extend their winning streak to three games.

Pony up: Alexei Ponikarovsky returns to the lineup after missing the past three games with a sprained knee. The 31-year-old winger was missed in the teams’ last meeting. Said coach Pete DeBoer: “He’s exactly the identity of a player that does the things we missed the other night.”

Grabner scratched: Struggling to match the production of his 34-goal rookie campaign, Michael Grabner will be a healthy scratch for the first time this season. The 24-year-old winger, who was a Calder Trophy finalist last season, has only 15 goals this season and only one in the last 19 games. Grabner also missed the last two games with the flu.

Nabokov not Nilsson: Although it was rookie netminder Anders Nilsson that blanked the Devils Sunday, Islanders coach Jack Capuano will start Evgeni Nabokov in goal instead. The 36-year-old netminder has given up seven goals combined in his last two starts.

Hot hand: Settling in on the right wing, Josh Bailey has tallied four goals in as many games. The natural center has moved up to play on the Islanders second line with pivot Frans Nielsen and Swedish winger David Ullstrom.

Three straight: Thursday’s match is the second of three straight games in which the Islanders face the Devils over the course of six days. The two teams also square off Saturday at Nassau Coliseum.

Familiar foes: The Devils are amidst a six-game stretch all against Atlantic Division opponents. New Jersey is currently in fourth place behind the Rangers, Penguins and Flyers.

After missing the past two games with the flu, Michael Grabner will be out of the lineup for the third straight Thursday. This time, however, the struggling forward will be a healthy scratch.

Grabner has had a disappointing season following last year's standout 34-goal rookie campaign. With only 15 goals through the first 66 games -- only one in the last 19 -- he'll watch a game from the press box as the Islanders attempt to record their third straight win against New Jersey.

"I haven't really had the season that people expected, that I expected from myself," Grabner said. "Hopefully that will help a little bit, to see the game form upstairs."

"We're in a playoff race. We're seven points out and they've won two in a row. I knew there was a possibility they'd want to switch it up," said Grabner, who was informed by coach Jack Capuano of the scratch before the team's optional skate. "We had a good talk this morning and I want the team to win."

Although it was rookie Anders Nilsson that recorded his first NHL shutout against the Devils Sunday, Evgeni Nabokov will get the start against New Jersey tonight.

Last Sunday's 1-0 loss on Long Island didn't sit well with the Devils. Shutout by rookie netminder Anders Nilsson, the team dropped their fourth straight game against the lowly Islanders.

The Devils get a second crack at them Thursday in the teams' second of three meetings this week; they hope the game serves as a chance to avenge the embarrassing defeat.

New Jersey is coming off a spirited 4-1 win against the Rangers Tuesday while the Islanders aim to record their third straight.

Martin Brodeur will be in goal for the Devils, although it is unclear if Nilsson will return to face New Jersey again after recording his first NHL shutout four days ago.

If he is, the Devils hope to make it more difficult than the last time.

'We didn't make him make a challenging save all night," Parise told The Newark Star-Ledger Wednesday. "We have to take some more action to him."

Rookie goaltender Anders Nilsson, recalled from Bridgeport earlier this week, earned his first NHL win and shutout as the Islanders blanked the Devils 1-0 at Nassau Coliseum Sunday.

The 21-year-old Swede, recently named the AHL's goaltender of the month, turned away all 24 shots as the Islanders collected their seconds straight win.

Kyle Okposo scored the game's only goal, tallying at 2:39 of the second.

Nilsson made his second NHL start with backup Al Montoya out with a minor injury. The Islanders face the Devils twice more this week.

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.

When the Islanders drafted Nino Niederreiter fifth overall in the 2010 draft, they had high hopes for the talented Swiss winger.

Following his first training camp, Niederreiter stuck on with the team for nine games before the Islanders sent him back to his junior club, the Portland WinterHawks of the Western Hockey League, for more seasoning.

Niederreiter dominated in his final season with Portland, recording 41 goals and 29 assists in 55 games for the Winterhawks, and appeared poised to make the leap to the NHL.

So what happened?

A pre-season groin injury derailed the start of Niederreiter's 2011-12 campaign and the former first round pick has struggled to find his place on the roster ever since.

Limited to only one goal and an average 9:23 in ice time in 39 games for the Islanders this season, Niederreiter finds himself a healthy scratch for the second straight game with the Islanders facing the Flyers in Philadelphia on Thursday.

It's been a puzzling situation for Niederreiter, who spoke out in frustration Thursday.

"Of course I'm happy and proud to be an Islanders all year. But I'm p----- off I can't play," Niederreiter told Newsday's Arthur Staple Thursday.

The situation begs the question: is this a case of a player who has underachieved while facing lofty expectations? Or is this another example of poor development by an Islanders club that has seen it's "rebuild" stall yet again?

Three points out of last place in the Eastern Conference, the Islanders are bound to miss the playoffs for the fifth straight season. And who knows whether a top draft pick can be a consolation to a downtrodden fan base any longer?

For every John Tavares and Travis Hamonic that has developed into a bona fide NHL star-in-the-making, the Islanders have seen many of their top picks -- Josh Bailey, Calvin de Haan, Niederreiter -- struggle with the transition.

The Islanders had the chance to send Niederreiter back to his junior team this season, just as it had a similar opportunity to send Bailey back during his rookie campaign. By not doing so, they might have hampered both players' development.

What does that mean for the team's future?

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 Islanders made one late move, sending veterans Brian Rolston and defenseman Mike Mottau to Boston in the final minutes before the clock struck three. They received prospects Yannick Riendeau and Marc Cantin from the Bruins in the deal.

In addition to the last-minute swap, general manager Garth Snow extended an offer to goaltender Evgeni Nabokov, who is slated to become an unrestricted free agent July 1. Nabokov is currently mulling the deal, one source confirmed to ESPNNewYork.com.