DETROIT -- Gustav Nyquist may not be in the Detroit Red Wings future plans, but he's a big part of their present.

Nyquist, a right winger, has five goals and 10 assists in his last six games and is tied with Dylan Larkin for the team lead in points with 26 (seven goals and 19 assists).

Detroit (13-12-4) hosts the New York Islanders (13-11-3) at Little Caesars Arena at Saturday night. The Islanders are 1-3-1 in their past five games and have only scored eight goals in that span.

The 1995-96 Islanders season was an unmitigated disaster, and Billy Joel is partially to blame. 

That was the season the Islanders decided to change their logo and introduce a new mascot -- a fisherman -- to help boost merchandise sales and reinvigorate the fanbase, but it did not quite catch on. 

Per the New York Post, Nicholas Hirshon details in his new book, "We Want Fish Sticks: The Bizarre and Infamous Rebranding of the New York Islanders," that ownership wanted to capture what constituted an "Islander."

Sidney Crosby and Phil Kessel each had three points for the Penguins as they shut down the Islanders with a 6-2 victory Thursday night. >> Box score

First period:

• 8:34 PIT Kris Letang; Assists: Derick Brassard, Phil Kessel
• 17:43 NYI Brock Nelson (Short handed); Assists: Tom Kuhnhackl, Scott Mayfield
• 19:31 PIT Kris Letang; Assists: Bryan Rust, Brian Dumoulin

Second period:

• 7:21 PIT Riley Sheahan; Assists: Evgeni Malkin, Jamie Oleksiak
• 12:09 PIT Phil Kessel (Power play); Assists: Sidney Crosby, Jake Guentzel
• 17:37 PIT Phil Kessel; Assists: Sidney Crosby, Jake Guentzel

Third period:

• 4:23 NYI Anders Lee; Assists: Ryan Pulock
• 13:00 PIT Sidney Crosby; Assists: Phil Kessel, Jake Guentzel

The Pittsburgh Penguins are hoping to hang on tight to what happened early in the third period in their game Tuesday. The New York Islanders are hoping to forget the early part of their most recent third period.

The two teams clash Thursday at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh

Patric Hornqvist proclaimed that the Penguins (11-10-5) reached a turning point for the better Tuesday after he scored a natural hat trick in a span of 2:47 -- a club record for a hat trick -- in the third period of a 6-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche.

Thomas Greiss stopped 21 of 23 shots for the Islanders but three unanswered goals in the third period doom them in 3-1 loss to Jets. >> Box score

First period:

• N/A

Second period:

• N/A

NEW YORK -- After making an emotional return to Nassau Coliseum Saturday night, the New York Islanders will have to adjust to playing in their second home Tuesday.

But the Islanders won't be the only team at Barclays Center coming off an exhilarating and exhausting victory Tuesday night, when they host the Winnipeg Jets in the first game of the season between the two squads.

The Islanders, playing at their original home for the first time since the 2015 playoffs, came back from a two-goal deficit Saturday night to edge the Columbus Blue Jackets, 3-2. The Jets outdid that Sunday night, when they came back from a three-goal third-period deficit to beat the host New York Rangers, 4-3, in the shootout.

Fans from near and far, young and old, packed Nassau Coliseum on Saturday night as the Islanders returned to their roots for the first of 21 games in Uniondale.

It felt as if the Islanders took a 270-game road trip after leaving the Coliseum back in 2015. While the building underwent several renovations, the atmosphere and infrastructure didn't change.

"The only way to describe this is that we are home," said Frankie Borrelli, a Barstool Sports personality who organized a tailgate of approximately 250 people. "You just get the goosebumps just looking at this arena. See all the fans back home."

NEW YORK (AP) Casey Cizikas scored the tiebreaking goal in the third period and the New York Islanders won in their return to the Nassau Coliseum, rallying to beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2 Saturday night.

Anders Lee and Anthony Beauvillier scored in the second period to tie the score after the Islanders fell behind, and Thomas Greiss stopped 28 shots. Scott Mayfield and Jordan Eberle each had two assists to help New York improve to 10-2-0 against Metropolitan Division opponents this season.

Markus Hannikainen and Pierre-Luc Dubois scored for Columbus, which had won two straight. Cam Atkinson had an assist for his 300th career point and extending his point streak to 10 games. Sergei Bobrovsky finished with 26 saves.

UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- The first game of the season between the New York Islanders and Columbus Blue Jackets matches two Metropolitan Division contenders in a clash that could certainly impact the playoff picture come April.

But everyone knows the main attraction Saturday night will not be the teams but the building in which they're playing.

The Islanders make their long-awaited return to Nassau Coliseum, which was the franchise's home from the team's debut in 1972 until the spring of 2015, when they host the Blue Jackets. 

Nassau Coliseum has been as much a part of the fabric of Long Island as the Islanders themselves. And despite its flaws, the thundering crowds had always created a true home-ice advantage that helped the organization make its mark on NHL history.

The Islanders will play the first of 21 regular - season games at the Coliseum when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday. While the Islanders await construction of a new arena in Belmont, they will play at least half of their regular-season home games at the "new Old Barn" over the next three seasons.

While the unique arrangement will present scheduling challenges, the current crop of players relishes the chance to play in the Coliseum once again.

Robin Lehner stopped 27 of 28 shots for the Islanders but Ryan Donato beat him in the shootout to lift the Bruins to a 2-1 win. >> Box score

First period:

• 12:17 NYI Anders Lee; Assists: Mathew Barzal, Scott Mayfield

Second period:

BOSTON -- Rick Middleton's name is all over the Boston Bruins' record books.

It hasn't been enough to send the man they call 'Nifty' into the Hall of Fame -- but it is enough to get his No. 16 raised to the TD Garden rafters prior to Thursday night's game against the New York Islanders.

Acquired from the New York Rangers in exchange for Ken Hodge -- the latter reunited with Phil Esposito in New York, Middleton is third in goals (402), even strength goals (275), and shooting percentage (20.0), fourth in points (898) goals created (357.2), and goals for on ice (1,319), fifth in power play goals (102), sixth in assists (496) and game winning goals (52), tied for sixth in hat tricks), seventh in shots (2,007), eighth in games played (881) and goals per game (0.46) and 10th in plus-minus (plus-220). >> Read More

In Barry Trotz's first game against his former team, the Islanders lost to the Washington Capitals 4-1 on Monday at Barclays Center. >> Box score

First period:

• 0:36 NYI Valtteri Filppula; Assists: Ryan Pulock, Leo Komarov
• 2:50 WAS Tom Wilson; Assists: Nicklas Backstrom, Madison Bowey

Second period:

• 7:58 WAS Nic Dowd; Assists: Dmitrij Jaskin, John Carlson

Barry Trotz and the Washington Capitals were last in the same building together June 7, when they experienced the cathartic joy of the Capitals' first Stanley Cup championship.

It didn't take long for joy to be replaced by the cold realities of business for Trotz and the Capitals, who couldn't agree on terms of a new contract before Trotz, who coached last season as a lame duck, announced he would leave the organization June 18.

Three days later, Trotz agreed to become the head coach of the New York Islanders. And on Monday night, 172 days after Washington clinched the Stanley Cup by beating the Vegas Golden Knights, Trotz will finally reunite with his former employers and players when the Islanders host the Capitals at Barclays Center.

The Islanders dominated the Hurricanes on their home ice in a 4-1 win at Barclays Center on Saturday night. >> Box Score

First period:

• 3:39 NYI Valtteri Filppula; Assists: Leo Komarov, Scott Mayfield
• 9:01 NYI Anthony Beauvillier; Assists: Josh Bailey, Mathew Barzal

NEW YORK - The Carolina Hurricanes are finally beginning to establish a home ice advantage. They'll be the visiting team Saturday night, when the New York Islanders move one home game closer to recovering what used to be one of the most distinct home ice advantages in the NHL.

The Islanders will play their penultimate Saturday night game of the season at Barclays Center when they host the Hurricanes in a matchup of surprising Metropolitan Division contenders.

The Islanders made a roster swap, recalling C Tanner Fritz while sending LW Michael Dal Colle down to Bridgeport, the team announced on Saturday.

Fritz has played two games with the Isles so far this season, collecting an assist back on Oct. 6 against the Predators. He played in 34 games with New York last season, totaling seven points (three goals, four assists). 

Dal Colle has also played two games with the Islanders this season, his last coming on Nov. 21 against the Rangers. He didn't record a point. 

The Devils managed to force overtime with just seconds left in the third period, but Mathew Barzal put home the golden goal in a 4-3 loss at The Rock on Friday night. >> Box Score

First period:

• 7:24 NYI Jordan Eberle; Assists: Anthony Beauvillier

A pair of Metropolitan Division rivals return to action following U.S. Thanksgiving to face off Friday afternoon when the New Jersey Devils host the New York Islanders at Prudential Center.

It is the second meeting this season between the teams, who are separated by 16 miles, a pair of rivers and only two points in the standings. Back on Nov. 3, the Islanders (10-8-2) beat the Devils (9-9-2) 3-0 behind Thomas Greiss' 35-save shutout.

The Islanders were unable to muster up whatever magic they found last week against the Rangers, failing to score a goal against backup goalie Alexandar Georgiev in a 5-0 shutout loss. >> Recap

First period:

• 0:29 NYR  Filip Chytil; Assists: Kevin Shattenkirk, Chris Kreider
• 3:30 NYR Cody McLeod; Assists: Tony DeAngelo, Ryan Strome
• 8:04 NYR Neal Pion (Power Play); Assists: Vladeslav Namestnikov, Mika Zibanejad

The Rangers, Islanders and Devils all have some young, talented members on their teams, which begs the question: Who is the best young hockey player in New York?

SNY narrowed down three candidate and a look at some of their stats through the first quarter of the 2018-19 season. 

NEW YORK -- The New York Rangers are shaking things up Wednesday in hopes of snapping a lengthy losing streak against the New York Islanders. If the words spoken Sunday afternoon by coach Barry Trotz were any indication, the Islanders will be shuffling the deck as well.

Backup goalie Alexander Georgiev will make a rare start for the Rangers on Wednesday night when they host the Islanders in a battle of longtime rivals at Madison Square Garden.

Both teams are coming off a game against the visiting Dallas Stars. The Rangers continued their recent hot play Monday with a 2-1 win over the Stars, who began a five-game road trip Sunday by routing the Islanders 6-2.

NEW YORK (AP) Esa Lindell scored twice during Dallas' four-goal second period and the Stars beat the New York Islanders 6-2 Sunday.

Alexander Radulov had two goals and an assist, Tyler Seguin had a goal and two assists, and Roope Hintz also scored for the Stars, who have won two straight. Jamie Benn had three assists, Jason Spezza had two to top 900 points in his career, and Ben Bishop stopped 37 shots.

Anthony Beauvillier and Scott Mayfield scored for the Islanders, who lost in regulation for the third time in 12 games (7-3-2). Thomas Greiss had 16 saves, but was pulled after giving up three goals on six shots in the first 7:08 of the second period. Robin Lehner came on and finished with 11 saves.

NEW YORK -- A pair of teams off decidedly different yet equally unprecedented victories will square off Sunday afternoon, when the New York Islanders host the Dallas Stars at Barclays Center.

The Islanders last played Thursday night, when they remained perfect in the Metropolitan Division and continued their dominance over the New York Rangers with a 7-5 win over their arch-rivals at Barclays Center. The Stars edged the visiting Boston Bruins on Friday night, when Jason Dickinson scored 1:34 into overtime to give Dallas the 1-0 win.

With their franchise-record eighth straight win over the Rangers, the Islanders (10-6-2) improved to 7-0-0 in the Metro. It is the Islanders' best divisional start ever and the first time since the 2012-13 season an NHL team has won its first seven divisional games.

Anthony Beauvillier scored his first career hat trick as the Islanders topped the Rangers in a 7-5 barn burner at Barclays Center. >> Box score

First period:

• 5:00 NYR Chris Kreider (power play); Assists: Neal Pionk, Mika Zibanejad
• 5:35 NYR Fredrik Claesson; Assists: Brett Howden
• 9:35 NYI Anthony Beauvillier; Assists: Thomas Hickey, Valtteri Filppula
• 10:38 NYI Brock Nelson; Assists: Nick Leddy, Jordan Eberle

Second period:

• 2:24 NYI Anthony Beauvillier; Assists: Valtteri Filppula, Leo Komarov
• 3:21 NYR Kevin Hayes (shorthanded); Assists: None
• 5:13 NYI Anthony Beauvillier (power play; hat trick); Assists: Johnny Boychuk, Mathew Barzal
• 14:04 NYI Anders Lee (power play); Assists: Nick Leddy, Josh Bailey

Third period:

• 9:56 NYI Leo Komarov; Assists: Valtteri Filppula, Anthony Beauvillier
• 13:13 NYR Chris Kreider (power play); Assists: Neal Pionk, Alexander Georgiev
• 17:31 NYR Filip Chytil; Assists: Vladislav Namestnikov, Kevin Shattenkirk
• 19:39 NYI Cal Clutterbuck (empty net); Assists: Brock Nelson

Three months ago almost every NHL preview did not have the Rangers and Islanders as two teams that would be fighting for the lead in the Metropolitan Division, but as we approach their first matchup Thursday night, it appears that neither team read, watched or listened those predictions -- the Isles and Rangers are tied for second place with 20 points, trailing only the Columbus Blue Jackets by two points for the division lead. 

Both teams have taken very different paths to get to this point. 

Let's start with the Islanders, who appear to have moved on from losing former captain John Tavares. The stability that Lou Lamoriello and Barry Trotz have brought to the organization cannot be quantified. While this team is not the most talented, it does not get outworked, plays a much better defensive structure and is keeping the puck out of its own net. Thomas Greiss and Robin Lehner have provided stability between the pipes and the duo of Josh Bailey and Anders Lee have proven that they are not a product of their former captain. 

Tom Kuhnhackl led the Islanders with two goals in their 5-2 win over the Canucks at home on Tuesday night. >> Box score

First period:

• 2:48 VAN Brendan Leipsic; Assists: Bo Horvat, Michael Del Zotto
• 5:11 NYI Tom Kuhnhackl; Assists: Leo Komarow, Valtteri Filppula
• 5:56 NYI Josh Bailey; Assists: Mathew Barzal
• 14:50 NYI Jordan Eberle; Assists: Brock Nelson, Andrew Ladd

We have one question Tom Kuhnhackl: How did you just score on this play?

While fighting for a puck against the boards against the Canucks, Kuhnhackl came away with it, but slipped off his skates. But that didn't stop him from trying to throw the puck at net.

CLICK BELOW TO SEE THE PLAY

NEW YORK -- The New York Islanders and Vancouver Canucks were two of the most surprising stories of the NHL through the first month of the season. But these next few weeks are likely to reveal more about the Islanders and Canucks than the first few weeks.

The Islanders and Canucks will each be looking to snap losing streaks Tuesday night, when New York hosts Vancouver at Barclays Center.

The Islanders suffered their third straight loss Saturday night, when they fell to the host Florida Panthers, 4-2. The visiting Canucks lost their second consecutive game Monday, when they dropped a 2-1 decision to the New York Rangers.

Aleksander Barkov scored the go-ahead goal in the third period and the Panthers went on to defeat the Islanders on Saturday, 4-2. >> Box score

First period:

• 6:20 FL Denis Malgin; Assists: Jared McCann, Nick Bjugstad
• 7:27 NYI Mathew Barzal; Assists: Anders Lee

The Florida Panthers were supposed to be serious playoff contenders this season, and the New York Islanders, well, weren't.

But through roughly the first-eighth of this season, the opposite seemed true.

The Islanders, who visit the Panthers on Saturday night at the BB&T Center, entered the weekend atop the Metropolitan Division with 18 points and an 8-5-2 record.

Josh Bailey scored two goals and the Islanders had 37 shots, but Tampa Bay goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy kept his team in it as the Lightning came away with the 4-2 win Thursday night. >> Box score

First period:

• 3:40 NYI Josh Bailey; Assists: Brock Nelson

Second period:

• 5:58 TBL Mathieu Joseph; Assists: Alex Killorn, Anton Stralman
• 11:12 TBL J.T. Miller; Assists: Mikhail Sergachev, Steven Stamkos

Third period:

• 8:43 NYI Josh Bailey; Assists: Adam Pelech, Mathew Barzal
• 18:34 TBL Tyler Johnson; Assists: Nikita Kucherov, Yanni Gourde
• 19:50 TBL Steven Stamkos (Empty Net); Assists: J.T. Miller, Ryan McDonagh

The Tampa Bay Lightning look to continue their winning ways against the resurgent New York Islanders when the teams meet Thursday at Amalie Arena.

The Lightning enter with a three-game winning streak and have won four of the past five games to sit atop the Atlantic Division standings.

The Islanders saw their five-game winning streak end on Monday at the hands of the Montreal Canadiens but remain at the top of the Metropolitan Division standings. >> Read more

The Islanders' Feb. 28 game against the Toronto Maple Leafs will be played at Nassau Coliseum rather than Barclays Center -- and John Tavares, for one, is looking forward to it.

The former Isles captain knows he'll hear plenty of boos after leaving his longtime team to sign with the Leafs this past summer. But Tavares told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun that he's nevertheless excited to return to where he developed into an NHL star.

"Yeah I mean, it's really out of my control,'' Tavares said of how Islanders fans will receive him. "However they feel is how they feel. All I hope is that they saw me give all I had for nine years and that I was completely invested in being an Islander. I loved it there. I made a decision that I thought was best for myself and my career. That place still means a lot to me. A lot of great people who had a big impact in my life and a big reason I am who I am today. But obviously they're very proud and protective of their hockey team and what it means to them. They're not very nice to the visitor, at least when I was still part of it, and I'm sure it'll be similar for myself. But it'll be fun to play in.'' 

The Islanders blew a two-goal first-period lead and lost to the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 in a shootout on Monday at Barclays Center. >> Box score

First period:

• 4:04 NYI Casey Cizikas; Assists: Adam Pelech, Ross Johnston
• 5:59 MON Jonathan Drouin; Assists: Max Domi, Noah Juulsen
• 7:44 NYI Valtteri Filppula; Assist: Leo Komarov
• 14:58 NYI Casey Cizikas; Assist: Cal Clutterbuck

The New York Islanders have established themselves as one of the surprise stories of the NHL by dominating within their division. Now the Islanders will look to see if they can carry that over to non-Metropolitan Division foes.

The Islanders will look to extend the Eastern Conference's longest winning streak on Monday night, when they host the Montreal Canadiens at Barclays Center.

Jordan Eberle, Brock Nelson, and Scott Mayfield each scored goals and Thomas Greiss saved 35 shots to help the Islanders shut out the Devils on Saturday night at Barclays Center. >> Box Score

NEW YORK -- Everyone knew things would be different for the New York Islanders after the departure of generational talent John Tavares. But few people expected the difference to manifest itself in a potentially record-setting start for the Islanders, who will look to remain perfect in the Metropolitan Division when they host the New Jersey Devils on Saturday night at Barclays Center.

The Islanders extended their winning streak to four games Thursday night when they moved into a tie for first place in the Metropolitan with a 3-2 shootout win over the other first-place occupant, the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Devils suffered their second straight loss Thursday night, falling to the host Detroit Red Wings 4-3.

The winning streak for the Islanders (7-4-1) has come entirely against Metropolitan opponents. New York is 5-0-0 in the Metropolitan this season, the franchise's best start against divisional rivals since it opened the 1982-83 season 6-0-0 (wins-losses-ties) in the Patrick Division. >> Read more

Copyright 2018 by the Associated Press

The Islanders continued to stay hot with a shootout victory, 4-3, over the Penguins on Thursday night at Barclays Center. >> Box score

First period:

• 6:20 PIT Dominik Simon (Power Play); Assists: Jake Guentzel, Olli Maatta

NEW YORK -- The New York Islanders ended the quirkiest early-season schedule in the NHL by winning three straight road games in a span of four days. Now the task for the Islanders is to produce similar success in their first extended homestand of the 2018-19 campaign.

The Islanders will look to remain hot Thursday night, when they host the Pittsburgh Penguins in an early-season battle for first place in the Metropolitan Division at Barclays Center.

It will be the second straight game between the rivals. The Islanders earned a convincing win Tuesday night, when Jordan Eberle scored twice in a 6-3 win over the Penguins. >> Read more

Prior to Tuesday's game between the Islanders and Penguins, Pittsburgh honored the shooting victims who were killed at the Tree of Life synagogue on Saturday with a moment of silence. Two officers wounded in response to the shooting also participated in an honorary puck drop.

As for the game, the Islanders won their third after recovering from blowing a 2-0 lead in the first period. The scored three goals in the second -- two from Jordan Eberle -- en route to a 6-3 win over the Penguins. The victory extends the Islanders' winning streak to three games and point streak to four. 

Islanders goalie Robin Lehner made 23 of 25 saves but was replaced by Thomas Greiss at the start of the third period due to a strain, per head coach Barry Trotz. >> Box score

PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- It's pretty straightforward for the New York Islanders (5-4-1). They can extend their winning streak to three games, their point streak to four games and stay above .500 with a win Tuesday against Pittsburgh at PPG Paints Arena.

Things are more complex for the Penguins (6-1-2). Under normal circumstances, they would simply be returning home triumphant after going 4-0 on a road trip through Canada that they claim helped them bond and set a tone for perhaps the rest of the season.

But these aren't normal circumstance. The Penguins will be juggling their emotions playing at home for the first time since a shooting Saturday at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Squirrel Hill area of the city left 11 people dead.  >> Read more

The Islanders entered the 2018-19 season with a new regime led by team president Lou Lamoriello and Stanley Cup-winning head coach Barry Trotz.

But Josh Ho-Sang, the Isles' first-round pick (No. 28 overall) in the 2014 NHL Draft, says he's been offered anything but a fresh start. In fact, the 22-year-old believes he wasn't given a fair shot at making the NHL squad during training camp, instead being sent down to the AHL for the second straight season.

"I felt like they had their minds made up on what was going to happen and what the team was going to look like," Ho-Sang told the New York Post on Monday. "It's OK. They had the whole summer to plan that. I don't know if you watched any of the games, but I didn't play a lot. It's OK. It is what it is."

The Islanders beat the Carolina Hurricanes 2-1 on Sunday at PNC Arena for their second straight victory. >> Box score

First period:

• 3:39 NYI Anders Lee (power play); Assists: Josh Bailey, Nick Leddy

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Two teams feeling good after their most recent results meet Sunday when the New York Islanders face the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena.

The teams put together different types of inspirational victories in advance of this game, but the confidence might be brewing for both clubs.

For the Islanders, it was Saturday afternoon's 6-1 whipping of the Philadelphia Flyers for a strong start on a three-game road swing.

"They are games that mean a lot," said Islanders center Anthony Beauvillier, who notched his first goal of the season Saturday. "All of us want to get rolling." >> Read more

Brock Nelson scored twice and Anders Lee tallied four points -- three assists and a power-play goal -- as the Islanders defeated the Philadelphia Flyers in a 6-1 rout. >> Box score

Two Metropolitan Division rivals looking for answers face each other in a Saturday matinee in Philadelphia.

The New York Islanders, 0-4-1 in their last five games, have to find a way to score some goals -- and will go against a Flyers team that has to find a way to stop them.

The Islanders (3-4-1 overall and in the middle of playing six of seven games on the road) have scored eight goals during the five-game stretch and blew a 2-0 lead before losing 3-2 in overtime to the Florida Panthers in Brooklyn Wednesday night.

Brock Nelson and Jordan Eberle scored the first two goals of the game, but the Panthers rallied in the final period and won in overtime, 3-2.  >> Box score

NEW YORK -- The Florida Panthers are looking forward to playing Wednesday night because it will provide them an opportunity to forget about what happened Tuesday.

The New York Islanders are looking forward to Wednesday night so they can confirm they haven't forgotten how to play hockey.

The Panthers will complete a back-to-back set Wednesday night, when they visit the Islanders in New York's first home game in more than two weeks at Barclays Center.