After long review, Moulson's goal wins in overtime

TAMPA, Fla.- Those two points were worth the wait.

After a video review of more than 10 minutes, Matt Moulson was awarded a goal at 1:56 of overtime to give the Islanders a 3-2 win over the Lightning last night.

Moulson's game-winner, originally ruled a no-goal, was snatched out of mid-air by Lightning goaltender Dan Ellis, but officials in the NHL "war room" in Toronto determined that he had not kept it from crossing the line. The review began at 3:28 of overtime, the first stoppage of play.

The Islanders erupted into cheers after the announcement and celebrated their third consecutive victory. They are 4-1-2 and are tied in points with Pittsburgh atop the Atlantic Division.

"I had no clue," Moulson said of his vantage point on the goal. "I was laying on the ground."

But during the interminable wait, the bench received word from video coach Ryan Ward that good news was on the way. "[Ward] saw it while they were reviewing it,'' coach Scott Gordon said, "and told us on the bench that 100 percent it was in."

The goal came four seconds after the Islanders' four-on-three power play expired. Pavel Kubina tripped Blake Comeau with eight seconds left in regulation and the power play carried over.

"It was an ugly power play and we didn't score on the power play,'' Gordon said, "but their guy was coming out of the box when we did. At the end of the day, we did the right thing on it by getting the puck to the net."

The Islanders also received some strong goaltending from Rick DiPietro, who made 28 saves, including one to thwart former teammate Sean Bergenheim on a breakaway in the third period.

"Goaltending was great," former Lightning player Zenon Konopka said. "He's so unbelievable on reaction shots."

DiPietro's point-blank stop on Bergenheim in the third atoned for the goal DiPietro gave up to him in the first.

After Michael Grabner buried a rebound for his second goal of the season at 2:15 in the first, Bergenheim tied it late in the period after teammate Teddy Purcell sprung Bergenheim for an easy breakaway goal at 18:05.

Martin St. Louis broke the tie in the second period at 4:44 on a rush four seconds after an Islanders power play expired.

After St. Louis' go-ahead goal, both teams had five-on-three power-play opportunities. The Islanders converted and the Lightning did not.

With Ryan Malone already in the box for roughing, Steven Stamkos gave the Islanders a two-man advantage after cross-checking Nino Niederreiter.

P.A. Parenteau scored the equalizer at the 10-minute mark to give the Islanders their ninth power-play goal of the season.

"I think maybe that's the difference between this year and last year," Moulson said. "We didn't play our best, obviously, and we gave up some chances, but we had some stellar goaltending and got the two points. That's the key, to just find a way to win, even when we're not playing our best."

Notes & quotes: Defenseman Andrew MacDonald did not play the third period because of a hand injury . . . Trent Hunter (foot) returned to the lineup.