Rookie’s first NHL goal propels red-hot Islanders to OT win

Devon Toews picked a great time to get his first NHL goal and keep the Islanders’ winning streak going.

Toews knocked in the rebound of his own shot at 1:48 of overtime to lift the Islanders past the Blackhawks 3-2 Thursday night for their fifth straight win in their fourth game os the season at Nassau Coliseum.

“It feels good to score and to get the two points is huge for our team,” said the 24-year-old rookie playing in his fifth career game. “[Josh Bailey] made a nice play over to me and the goalie made a pretty nice save on the first one. I saw he was scrambled so I just put it back five-hole toward the net. It went in.”

Mathew Barzal, who Wednesday was selected to the All-Star team for the first time, scored twice to keep up his scoring binge and help the Islanders win for the eighth time in nine games. Robin Lehner, making his third straight start, stopped 19 shots as the Islanders moved to 3-0-1 in at the Coliseum this season.

“Robin made a couple of big saves, we got a big power-play goal,” Islanders coach Barry Trotz said. “And Toews getting the game-winner, that’s pretty special if it’s your first NHL goal in overtime.”

Lehner has given up just three goals on 107 shots over his last four games since replacing Thomas Greiss in the second period of the Islanders’ 6-3 comeback win against Ottawa last Friday night.

“I’ve had [good] stints before,” Lehner said. “Today was a weird game for me. It was in waves. … They have high-end skill over there. so when they’re in our zone it’s pretty dangerous. You try to be on your toes.”

Patrick Kane and Dominik Kahun scored for Chicago, which lost for the third time in five games. Delia, making his sixth career start, finished with a career-high 47 saves.