Islanders 5, Rangers 3: Thomas Vanek scored on the power play with 4:38 remaining in the third period to snap a tie as the visiting Islanders overcame a pair of two-goal deficits to skate to their seventh win in nine games.

Frans Nielsen joined Vanek with a goal and an assist while defenseman Thomas Hickey, Colin McDonald and Matt Martin also tallied. Captain John Tavares notched three assists and Kevin Poulin finished with 30 saves for the Islanders, who have won two straight versus Metropolitan Division rivals after going 3-11-3 in their previous 17.

Rick Nash scored twice for the second straight game and increased his goal total to nine in as many contests. Chris Kreider collected a goal and two assists while rookie Cam Talbot turned aside 32 shots in place of an ill Henrik Lundqvist for the Rangers, who saw their three-game winning streak come to an end and fell to 11-4-1 in their last 16 contests.

With the Rangers serving a too-many-men-on-the-ice penalty, the Islanders controlled the puck in the offensive zone as they pushed for the go-ahead goal. Nielsen's centering bid was deflected by Tavares in the high slot before Vanek alertly settled the puck in front and deposited it past Talbot for his 18th tally.

The Rangers seized a 3-1 lead midway into the second period as Derek Stepan's blast caromed off the post and hit the back of Poulin before Kreider alertly slapped the puck into the net. Hickey deflected Kyle Okposo's centering pass less than four minutes later to trim the deficit before McDonald beat Talbot from the slot with 3:24 left in the second.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Nash wasted little time extending his goal-scoring streak to three games as he converted Kreider's centering feed just 62 seconds into the contest. Nash doubled the advantage just over 10 minutes later with his team-leading 16th goal, accepting D Dan Girardi's lead pass at the blue line before tucking the puck past the extended right pad of Poulin. ... Vanek picked up an assist on Hickey's goal to extend his point streak to six games. ... With Lundqvist sidelined, G David LeNeveu served as Talbot's backup.