Holmstrom scores 2 as Islanders race to an early lead, hold on to beat Flames 3-2

NEW YORK (AP) — Simon Holmstrom scored twice and the New York Islanders raced to an early lead and held on to beat the Calgary Flames 3-2 on Saturday.

Casey Cizikas also scored for New York and David Rittich made 30 saves as the Islanders won for the third time in four games.

Mikael Backund and Blake Coleman scored for Calgary, which slipped to 2-5-1 in its last eight games. Devin Cooley started in the net for the Flames and allowed three goals on 10 shots in the first period. Dustin Wolf replaced Cooley to start the second period and finished with 17 saves.

Holmstrom gave the Islanders a 2-0 lead with his first goal of the game when he collected a pass from Luke Schenn and scored on a shot over Cooley’s blocker at 16:35 of the first. It was Schenn’s first assist at UBS Arena since being acquired by the Islanders from St. Louis at the trade deadline.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau set up Holmstrom for a short-handed goal in the final minute of the first period, extending the Islanders’ lead to 3-0.

Backlund and Coleman scored during a 6:11 stretch of the third period to pull Calgary within a goal.

Flames: At Detroit on Monday in the finale of a five-game trip.

Islanders: Open a three-game trip at Toronto on Tuesday.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL

Calgary Flames center Yegor Sharangovich (17) reaches for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Islanders, Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

New York Islanders center Jean-Gabriel Pageau (44) takes the puck from Calgary Flames defenseman Yan Kuznetsov, left, during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

Calgary Flames defenseman Kevin Bahl (7) keeps the puck away from New York Islanders center Calum Ritchie (64) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer (48) passes the puck around Calgary Flames center Mikael Backlund (11) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov each had a goal and an assist and the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-2 on Saturday night.

Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour coached his 600th career game for the franchise and picked up his 367th career win, the most for a head coach at the 600-game mark, besting Tampa Bay’s Jon Cooper, who set the previous record of 364.

Jordan Martinook broke a third period tie and Frederik Andersen stopped 17 shots. Logan Stankoven added an empty-net goal.

Yanni Gourde and Charle-Edouard D’Astous scored for Tampa Bay, which fell to 3-7 since the Olympic break. Andrei Vasilevskiy finished with 31 saves.

Martinook broke the tie when he swept a puck from outside the left circle toward the net that hit the inside of the pants of Victor Hedman and hit the inside of the far post at 9:18 of the third period.

The Hurricanes scored on the opening shift of the game on a delayed penalty call. After Svechnikov was denied in close to draw a penalty, he was left alone in front moments later for Aho to find him 36 seconds into the game.

The duo connected again late in the first period when Aho was stopped on a breakaway chance but stayed at the side of the net for Svechinkov, who sent over a quick pass.

It’s the third time this season in three meetings Carolina has built a multigoal lead in the first period against Tampa Bay.

But the Lightning struck back with a pair of goals in the second period.

Hurricanes: At Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday

Lightning: At Seattle Kraken on Tuesday

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) stops a shot by Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Oliver Bjorkstrand (22) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) makes a save on a shot by Carolina Hurricanes left wing Taylor Hall (71) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Lightning center Zemgus Girgensons (28) loses control of the puck in front of Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Lightning center Zemgus Girgensons (28) and Carolina Hurricanes center Seth Jarvis (24) fight during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Carolina Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho (20) watches his shot get past Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) for a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)