Moulson's OT goal wins it for Islanders

TAMPA, Fla.- The Islanders had to sweat out the outcome of the game during what seemed like the lengthiest video review ever, but the end was worth the wait as they were awarded a 3-2 overtime victory over the Lightning last night.

After a review by officials in the NHL "war room" in Toronto that lasted more than 10 minutes, Matt Moulson's goal at 1:56 of overtime was ruled to have crossed the goal line despite Lightning backup goaltender Dan Ellis' best attempt to snatch it out of mid-air.

The replay didn't begin until 3:28 of overtime, the first stoppage of play. The Islanders (4-1-2) have won three straight and sit atop the Atlantic Division ahead of Pittsburgh.

A tripping penalty on Pavel Kubina with time expiring in the third period gave the Islanders 1:52 of power-play time to start the overtime, but they failed to score with the man-advantage.

They also had a chance to win with the score tied at 2 late in the third period. Blake Comeau had a lane to the net but was taken down by Kubina with less than 10 seconds to play.

To add to the Islanders' ever-expanding list of injuries, defenseman Andrew MacDonald did not play the entire third period because of a hand injury suffered earlier in the game.

Martin St. Louis broke a 1-1 tie at 4:44 of the second period on a rush - one of many rushes the Islanders gave up in the middle frame - four seconds after the 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, third-year star Steven Stamkos gave the Islanders a two-man advantage after cross-checking Nino Niederreiter while the 18-year-old rookie chased after his own rebound in the crease.

P.A. Parenteau scored the equalizer midway through the second period to beat Ellis and give the Islanders their ninth power-play goal of the season.

The Islanders were forced to combat a speedy Lightning attack throughout the game.

Michael Grabner buried a rebound for his second goal of the season at 2:15 in the first.

Former Islander Sean Bergenheim tied it late in the period after teammate Teddy Purcell sprung him for an easy breakaway goal at 18:05, his second of the season.

Before the game, Bergenheim - selected by the Islanders in the first round of the 2002 draft - said he'd have no trouble facing his former teammates.

"The only difference is that some of the guys [I'm] playing against are friends," Bergenheim said, "but they won't be friends on the ice."

Bergenheim has thrived since signing with Tampa during the summer - with two goals and one assist in six games - and seems content to focus on his future, rather than the previous five seasons spent playing on Long Island.

"I'm with the Tampa Bay Lightning now and I'm enjoying my time here," Bergenheim said. " I had good times in New York, but I don't want to get into it too much."

Bergenheim must have been just as hesitant to think about his former team after the way last night's game ended, with a hopeful Lightning bench and a crowd disheartened by Moulson's game-winning goal, his fourth of the season.