Josh Bailey scored two goals for the Islanders, who are a point behind first-place Washington. The Devils defeated the Coyotes in a shootout.
Josh Bailey scored twice 1 minute 23 seconds apart in the third period, stopping a 12-game drought, and the Islanders won, 4-2, at Philadelphia on Saturday.
Nick Leddy and Brock Nelson also scored for the Islanders, who had dropped two in a row and three of four over all. Robin Lehner made 22 saves.
The Islanders moved to a point behind idle Washington for first place in the Metropolitan Division.
Nelson’s first-period baseball swing, knocking the puck out of midair, was the Islanders’ first goal in 134:27 after two embarrassing shutout losses that had Coach Barry Trotz considering lineup changes.
“I thought about it and it was actually quite difficult,” Trotz said. “We talked about it as a coaching staff because there are some guys I wasn’t really happy with.”
He added: “But I felt it was important to go back with this group and sort of challenge them a little bit. I liked the response.
