Islanders left wing Anders Lee, right, celebrates with center Casey Cizikas after Lee scored an empty net goal during the third period against the Panthers on Thursday in Sunrise, Fla. Credit: AP/Lynne Sladky
Anders Lee pushed and chased the puck up ice, swatting it into the Panthers' empty net to complete his first career Gordie Howe hat trick and cap a grueling stretch of 10 of 13 on the road for the Islanders.
And the captain’s renewed production is coinciding with the club starting to win again with frequency.
The Islanders, who did not practice on Friday, open a stretch of four of their next five games at home when they face the Sabres on Saturday afternoon at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum.