Simon Holmstrom scored consecutive goals late in the first period to cap a three-goal flurry Saturday night by the New York Islanders, who ensured they would maintain their spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race by edging the Calgary Flames 3-2 in Elmont, N.Y.
Casey Cizikas opened the scoring for the Islanders, who entered the day tied with the Pittsburgh Penguins for second place in the Metropolitan Division and tied with the Detroit Red Wings for the top wild-card spot.
David Rittich made 30 saves as New York improved to 6-3-0 since returning from the Olympic break.
Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman scored in the third for the Flames, who have lost seven of 10 (3-6-1) since resuming play following the Olympics. Dustin Wolf stopped all 17 shots he faced in relief of Devin Cooley, who gave up the three first-period goals on 10 shots.
A gritty effort by Cizikas led to his goal with 9:54 left in the first. After checking Olli Maatta into the back boards, Cizikas teamed up with Kyle MacLean to steal the puck from Flames defenseman Kevin Bahl. Cizikas then approached the right post and poked the puck into the far corner of the net with his third shot.
Holmstrom scored twice exactly three minutes apart later in the period.
Holmstrom, who changed his number from 10 to 92 after Brayden Schenn was acquired from the St. Louis Blues on March 6, teamed up with Schenn to finish off a 2-on-1. With Bahl between them, Schenn fed Holmstrom, who sent a shot over Cooley’s stick with 3:25 left.
The Islanders’ Calum Ritchie was whistled for tripping with 1:56 left, but Yegor Sharangovich whiffed on a shot and Jean-Gabriel Pageau picked up the puck and dished to a streaking Holmstrom, who bore in on Cooley and scored to cap his second multi-goal game of the season and the sixth of his career.
The Flames began their comeback bid 2:17 into the third, when Backlund, stationed in the slot, redirected Maatta’s shot. Calgary pulled within a goal following a fortuitous line change 6:11 later, when Coleman got a step on Ritchie and beat Rittich stick side.
