NEW YORK _ This was far from a complete return to health for the Islanders as they overcame a sluggish start but could not hold a two-goal lead in the third period against the NHL-worst Senators.
But it was a much-needed two points to start a home-and-home series even if it wasn't the full dose of medicine they were seeking to regain some momentum in their playoff chase.
"We just need to get rolling again," said Barry Trotz, who became the fourth coach in NHL history to reach 800 wins. "We've been a little frustrated."
The Islanders ended their homestand 2-3-0 with a 5-4 shootout win on Tuesday night over the trade-depleted Senators before a crowd of 11,445, the smallest of the season at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum. The teams play again Thursday night at Ottawa.
The Islanders (38-21-7), coming off Sunday's listless 4-1 loss to the Flyers, matched the 83 points of the Capitals, who had won, 3-1, at the Coliseum on Friday night on three third-period goals. The Capitals technically hold first place as they've won two of three from the Islanders.
The Senators tied the score at 4 and knocked goalie Robin Lehner (21 saves) from the game at 15:20 of the third period after Brady Tkachuk bowled him over, with Brock Nelson defending from behind him, and Jean-Gabriel Pageau pushing the puck into the vacated net with Lehner on his back in distress. After being attended to on the ice, Lehner left for the Islanders' room as Thomas Greiss (two saves) relieved him. It was initially ruled a goal, then no goal before the Senators successfully challenged.
Greiss stopped Thomas Chabot and then Bobby Ryan shot wide in the shootout while Jordan Eberle and Mathew Barzal converted for the Islanders. Craig Anderson made 34 saves for the Senators (23-38-6).
A stomach virus has ripped through the Islanders' room, leaving Trotz unsure on Tuesday morning who he would have available by game time. Forwards Michael Dal Colle and Josh Ho-Sang were recalled from Bridgeport on an emergency basis but, ultimately, only fourth-line wings Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck, both dealing with upper-body injuries, were out.
Still, it forced Trotz to juggle his lines, most notably putting Josh Bailey on Nelson's top line and dropping Eberle to Valtteri Filppula's third line while Dal Colle skated with Barzal and Anthony Beauvillier.
The Senators cut the Islanders' lead to 4-3 at 7:38 of the third period as Bobby Ryan tipped defenseman Christian Wolanin's shot.
The Islanders seemingly took control with a three-goal second period. The period started with Brian Gibbons bringing the Senators into a 1-1 tie just 26 seconds in but rookie defenseman Devon Toews quickly regained the lead, reaching down with his left hand as he cut to the crease to catch Dal Colle's feed before placing it on the ice and beating Anderson at 2:34.
Anders Lee tipped Nick Leddy's shot from the left point to make it 3-1 at 5:45 and after Oscar Lindberg got behind defenseman Adam Pelech to bring the Senators within 3-2 at 6:32, Ross Johnston bulled his way to the crease for his first goal of the season to make it 4-2 at 10:02.
The Islanders led 1-0 on Nelson's backhanded rebound shot at 8:22 after a less-than-crisp first period in both ends.
