NHL roundup: Islanders rally in third for comeback win, Stars slip past Ducks

On Tuesday, the National Hockey League (NHL) featured nine games as the playoff races intensified. Below is a recap of a few notable matches from the day.

The New York Islanders rallied in the third period to secure a 4-2 victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins on their home ice.

The Penguins took the lead at 4:40 with a goal from Joona Koppanen. Just 15 seconds before the end of the first period, captain Sidney Crosby extended the lead, marking his 1,670th point with Pittsburgh and surpassing Wayne Gretzky for the fourth most points scored with a single team.

After a scoreless second period, the Islanders struck first in the final frame, with Kyle Palmieri scoring just 17 seconds in. Five minutes later, Noah Dobson equalized the game. The situation worsened for the Penguins when Pierre Engvall completed the Islanders' comeback with 6:52 remaining.

Desperate to regain control, the Penguins attempted to level the score but ultimately fell short. Simon Holmstrom sealed the victory with an empty-net goal, ensuring the Islanders' triumph.

This win places New York just three points shy of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. They are set to face a crucial match against the Montreal Canadiens, who currently occupy the eighth position, on Thursday night. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh's gap from the eighth spot has widened to seven points, ending their four-game winning streak.

In a thrilling contest in Texas, the Dallas Stars edged out the Anaheim Ducks 4-3 in overtime.

Wyatt Johnston opened the scoring for the Stars with a power-play goal at 11:42. Nikita Nesterenko equalized for the Ducks just 2:48 into the second period, but the Stars quickly regained the lead two minutes later with a goal from Mikael Granlund.

Despite trailing once more, the Ducks demonstrated resilience and refused to concede easily. Leo Carlsson equalized the score before putting his team ahead with a penalty shot. This penalty occurred late in the second period, leaving the Stars at a disadvantage as they headed into the intermission. However, it took until 4:37 into the third period for the Stars to find the net again, with Thomas Harley leveling the score at 3-3.

The score remained unchanged for the remainder of regulation, necessitating overtime. In the middle of the extra period, Grandlund netted his second goal, securing the victory for the home team.

With this win, Dallas retains its position in second place in the Western Conference, bringing them closer to securing a playoff spot. Conversely, Anaheim's chances of making a late postseason push have diminished, as they now trail by nine points for the eighth position.