OTTAWA -- As it turned out, the New York Islanders didn't even need the slump-busting goal scored by their captain.

But they were glad to see him get rewarded with it anyway.

Center John Tavares' first in seven games was an insurance marker as the Islanders erupted for three unanswered goals in the third to defeat the Ottawa Senators 5-2 Friday night at Canadian Tire Centre.

It was also the third win in four games for the Islanders (25-16-6).

"It's good to see Johnny get on the board," said Islanders coach Jack Capuano. "He works so hard. You can see the work ethic tonight. He's been like that for us going through this, not a drought, just not getting the production that he wants. It's real important to get secondary scoring, especially on the road when they get the match ups they want against 91."

Tavares set up defensemen Travis Hamonic for the winner at 2:58 of the third, while winger Kyle Okposo added another with six minutes left.

Defenseman Nick Leddy and winger Cal Clutterbuck scored earlier for the Islanders, while winger Bobby Ryan and defensemen Erik Karlsson replied for Ottawa.

Islanders goalie Jaroslav Havlak made 28 saves while Senators goalie Andrew Hammond stopped 29 shots.

The loss was the second in a row for the Senators (22-20-6), who suffered an ugly 6-3 defeat in New Jersey on Thursday and have only won four times, including just once in regulation, in their last 12.

"We had problems in the third period all over the ice from everybody," said Senators winger Bobby Ryan. "Guys that simply don't want the puck, guys that simply won't hunt the puck down, and when you're not buying into the system it's going to take its toll.

"That's exactly what (happened) in the third period. They did everything right and we did everything wrong to compound the issue. It's embarrassing."

The Senators overcame a 1-0 deficit then took the lead just past the midway mark of the second, but Clutterbuck tied it up when he wound up with the puck after a fortuitous bounce off the boards behind the Ottawa net.

Hamonic's goal early in the third was a back breaker, or a "heavy piano that hits you," in the second of back to back games, said Ottawa coach Dave Cameron.

"We got a little bit deflated and weren't as good," he said.

Hammond, who was the Senators hero in last season's second half run to the playoffs, is now 3-5-2 and gave up 12 goals in his last two starts.

"Obviously it's tough. It's a team game, but all of us, myself included, we just haven't been good enough. Until that changes we're not going to see the results we want."

As a result, the Senators have been unable to take that step to get themselves among the top eight teams in the Eastern Conference. They're chances of getting back to the playoffs hinge on a turnaround of their ways.

"It's gut check time for us here," said Senators defenseman Mark Borowiecki. "This is kind of when you find out what a team's made of. This is that stretch where teams are going to start pulling away. That kind of parity you see in the East is going to go away. So for us to make that push and stay in the hunt, we're going to have to really look each other in the eye and make sure we have what it takes."

Meanwhile, the Islanders were playing for the first time since last Sunday and wound up with what Tavares called "a pretty good road win."

"We just want to carry this momentum forward," he said, before describing the play he made on Hamonic's winner. "We just did a good job of coming out of our own end, something that's been a lot better for us lately. It gives the guys up front some speed and some time to make some plays and create some room.

"I sucked the winger down towards me and Hammer was open and made a great shot."

Hamonic repaid the favor by setting up Tavares for his 16th of the season.

"I think John is such a good player, I don't have to tell you how good a player he is," said Hamonic. "He wants to win. He's probably one of the more competitive people I've ever met in my life. Maybe he hasn't scored as much as he would like in the last couple of weeks, but he has been playing so well for us. He goes up against the best players every single night. I think we have a tone of depth and other guys are stepping up at different moments in the game, but he's certainly been our best player all season, no questions asked."

The Senators lost veteran winger Milan Michalek for an indefinite period of time when he broke a finger on his right hand while blocking a shot in the second period.

It was the second time this season Michalek has broken a finger while blocking a shot.

"It's a loss of a real good hockey player, a professional," said Cameron. "He broke his hand twice, doing the grunt work. He leads by example. And when you see a guy playing the game the right way, and doing everything that you ask all your players and to see him do it the right way and to get hurt again, your heart just aches for him."

NOTES: Islanders D Travis Hamonic returned to the lineup after missing four games with a lower-body injury. Hamonic worked on the first pairing with D Calvin de Hann. ... Senators RW Alex Chiasson was a late scratch and replaced by LW Matt Puempel, who was recalled from the team's AHL affiliate in Binghamton on Thursday. ... Islanders D Johnny Boychuk remained on the shelf for the eighth consecutive game with an upper-body injury, while D Adam Pelech missed his second in a row with an upper-body injury. ... After having his Ironman streak snapped at 307 games Thursday, Senators C Kyle Turris was again scratched from the lineup with a lower-body injury. ... Senators D Marc Methot missed his third straight game with a lower-body injury.