NYI 4, PIT 1: Tavares powers Islanders to win, share of Metropolitan division lead

The New York Islanders improved to 14-6-0 with a convincing 4-1 victory over Metropolitan Division rival the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday night. 

The win moves the Islanders into a tie with the Penguins at the top of the Metropolitan Division - though, Pittsburgh has a game in hand - and ties a franchise record for the best start to an NHL season.

Here's what you need to know:

• Islanders grinder Matt Martin scored in the second period to level the score. It was the second consecutive game in which Martin has managed a goal, marking the first time he's scored in back-to-back games in his NHL career (Martin has scored two goals in a game on two occasions).

• Islanders goaltender Jaroslav Halak stopped 27 of the 28 shots on goal he faced. Halak has now won six straight games, and has managed an otherworldly .952 save percentage during that stretch. 

• Penguins winger Patric Hornqvist, one of the games best volume shooters, didn't register a shot on goal for the first time this season.

• Islanders forward Brock Nelson scored his 10th goal of the season Saturday night - a power-play goal, unsurprisingly. Nelson has now scored six power-play goals this season, which ties him with Claude Giroux for the NHL lead.