Tavares sparks Islanders offense at perfect time

After losing Monday to the Philadelphia Flyers, and dropping to 1-4-2 in their past seven, New York Islanders captain John Tavares told reporters he had to be better to help turn his team around.

On Wednesday, he delivered.

Tavares opened the scoring almost 5 1/2 minutes into the second period to end a five-game goalless drought and spark the Islanders offense en route to a 3-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators.

Tavares wasn't alone in criticizing the team's performance Monday, as head coach Jack Capuano called for more secondary scoring from his team. He received it Wednesday from NHL hits leader Matt Martin, who ended a 13-game goalless drought of his own later in the second.

In one game, the Islanders matched their goal total from their previous three, as Brock Nelson gave his team a commanding three goal lead heading into the third.

The win came at the perfect time for the Islanders, as they increase their cushion atop the wild-card standings to four points ahead of the Philadelphia Flyers and Detroit Red Wings with 10 games remaining.

Their upcoming schedule should also give them confidence as three of their next four come against non-playoff teams, a back-to-back against the Carolina Hurricanes beginning Saturday, and they host the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 31.