CALGARY - It wasnt exciting, but it was effective.John Tavares scored early and again late as the New York Islanders made it three consecutive wins Friday night with a 2-1 victory over the Calgary Flames.After Tavares opened the scoring eight minutes into the game, the score remained 1-0 until 12:16 of the third period when Tavares got the puck in the slot, fended off Deryk Engelland and fired his team-leading 17th goal through the pads of Jonas Hiller.Obviously not a whole lot of offence tonight, just trying to play a good solid road game, said Tavares.The Flames got a goal from Johnny Gaudreau — his 13th of the season — with 3:25 left in the third period to get back within one but they could not tie it against Jaroslav Halak, who had 22 stops to win his seventh straight game.Guys played great. Everybody was back-checking, tracking back hard, we didnt give up too much, said Halak, who improved to 21-6-0. It could have been perfect or better if they didnt score but a win is a win.New York (26-11-1) improves to 7-1-1 in its last nine games and keeps pace with the Pittsburgh Penguins atop the Metropolitan Division. The Islanders third stop on a season-long seven-game road trip is Sunday in Edmonton.Calgary (21-16-3) had its four-game winning streak snapped. The Flames are not back in action until Wednesday when they host Detroit. They are 3-1-0 with two games left on a six-game homestand.They were just getting pucks first and out-battling us, said Flames centre Josh Jooris. That first period wasnt the greatest and we got behind the 8-ball early.Most upsetting for the Flames was that their overall effort wasnt up to the standard theyve shown all season.Its disappointing. Thats our game, what we pride ourselves on. But we just got outworked tonight, Jooris said.The first game of 2015 for both teams looked more like the first game of the pre-season for much of the night. The game was devoid of any flow with both teams guilty of errant passes, numerous stoppages for icings and offsides and general sloppy play, especially in the first two periods.A pretty boring hockey game to be honest with you. But that said, thats how we want to play on the road, said Islanders right-winger Kyle Okposo. We were half-an-inch off in the offensive zone and didnt get quite as many chances as wed have liked but I thought we did a pretty good job of limiting theirs.Calgary coach Bob Hartley saw the game similarly.I felt that our passing was not what it usually is — lots of bouncing pucks and pucks off the skates. The first period, we were not there at all. We basically survived that first period. Then in the second, we got better. The third period, we got better. But our execution was not good enough.Looking to tie the game, the Flames got back-to-back power plays early in the third period but were unable to take advantage against a New York penalty-killing unit ranked 29th in the NHL.Calgary failed to generate a shot on the first chance and the best scoring chance of the second power play — a Curtis Glencross set up of Sean Monahan — was stopped on a superb pad save by Halak.We need a lot more. Were not happy about that, said Monahan. Power plays are a big part of the game and thats how youve got to win hockey games. When you have that man advantage, you have to find a way to bury one.New York took a 1-0 lead eight minutes into the game, capitalizing on a two-minute two-man advantage.With Lance Bouma already in the penalty box for tripping, Matt Stajan was sent off on the ensuing face-off for covering his hand on the puck.Calgary killed off the first 45 seconds of the 5-on-3 without any troubles but once the Islanders got set up, they moved the puck around nicely and eventually, Ryan Strome fed a perfect pass through the top of the crease to Tavares, who one-timed a shot in the open side before Hiller could slide across.Some pretty good skill up there and Strome made a heck of a pass, said Okposo, who also had an assist.Tavares said it was a matter of being patient when you have that much time to work with.Theres no reason to rush any shots. I think you want to create some movement, see what theyre giving you and try to make them commit and create some lanes, Tavares said. When you get a good look, you have to take it. Thats what we tried to do.Calgary pulled their goalie for the extra attacker in the final minute but could not pull out another late comeback. The Flames lead the NHL with eight wins when trailing entering the third period.I really believe that the Islanders showed us why theyre having such a great season, said Hartley.Hiller had 22 stops for the Flames. His record falls to 13-11-2.Notes: In two career games at the Saddledome, Tavares has four goals. He also scored twice in his only previous appearance four years ago... The Flames shuffled their lines a little bit moving RW Joe Colborne onto a line with Monahan and Glencross and dropping David Jones to the fourth line alongside Matt Stajan and Brandon Bollig... LW Mason Raymond was a healthy scratch for Calgary for the second game in a row... The Islanders record when scoring first improves to 14-8-1. However, they still have a better record when surrendering the first goal (12-3-0). Mike Bibby Jersey . New York secured second place in the Metropolitan Division when the Philadelphia Flyers lost at Tampa Bay later Thursday. The Rangers will face either the Flyers or Columbus in the opening round of the post-season. The Rangers struggled throughout against the lowly Sabres and goalie Matt Hackett, who played in just his seventh NHL game of the season. Chris Webber Kings Jersey . Off-Season Game Plan examines a team facing some challenging times as GM Bryan Murray tries to put together a roster for next season. Perhaps the first challenge facing Murray is that its expected he will be moving out Jason Spezza, a premier point producer who is about to enter the final year of his contract. http://www.nbakingsonline.com/Authentic-Chris-Webber-Kings-Jersey/ . Mauer drove in two runs before leaving with an injury, Eduardo Nunez homered and the Minnesota Twins beat the Kansas City Royals 10-2 on Tuesday night. Harry Giles Kings Jersey . The team reported the signing on its website Thursday, but said Friday the deal was off in "a mutual parting of the ways that had to do with the language of the contract. Buddy Hield Kings Jersey . Matt Carkner got back into the Ottawa lineup, and made his presence felt right away by settling his clubs score in a one-sided fight with Rangers forward Brian Boyle.MILWAUKEE -- Ryan Zimmermans two-run home run in the 16th inning lifted the Washington Nationals to a 4-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night. Zimmerman hit a 2-0 pitch off Mike Fiers (0-1) over the wall in left field to score Adam LaRoche for the Nationals fourth consecutive win. Tyler Clippard (5-2) pitched a scoreless 15th for the win. Rafael Soriano pitched the 16th for his 18th save. With one out in the 16th, LaRoche hit a sharp single that bounced off the wall in right field. Zimmerman then hit his third home run of the year to give the Nationals the lead in a game that took 5 hours, 22 minutes. The Brewers threatened in the 13th, 14th and 15th innings, but couldnt score. Lyle Overbay was stranded on third base in the 13th when Carlos Gomez hit a soft liner to shortstop to end the inning. In the 14th, Denard Span kept the Nationals alive with a leaping catch at the wall to rob Elian Herrera of an extra-base hit that likely would have scored Khris Davis from first and won the game for Milwaukee. Gomez popped out to end the 15th with Scooter Gennnett on second. Nationals manager Matt Williams intentionally walked Jonathan Lucroy in both the 13th and 15th innings to face Gomez, and the move worked both times to end threats. Washington had a chance to score in the 14th, putting runners on first and second with one out. Fiers got Danny Espinosa, who is 5 for 57 with runnerrs in scoring position, to fly out and Jose Lobaton grounded out to end the inning.dddddddddddd The Nationals were down to their final five outs when Anthony Rendon hit his 12th homer of the year, a solo shot, to right-centre off Will Smith with one out in the eighth to tie the score at 2. Thats when the bullpens took over. Neither team could get a runner in scoring position after Rendons homer until the Brewers fruitless rally in the 13th. The Brewers, who came into the series second in the NL in runs, lost 3-0 on Monday night. Milwaukee starter Yovani Gallardo allowed one run, four hits and two walks with five strikeouts, leaving after throwing 104 pitches in six innings. In his last four starts, he is 2-0 with a 1.00 ERA. Washington starter Jordan Zimmermann pitched six innings, allowing two runs, six hits and two walks while striking out nine. In his last three starts, he is 0-2 with a no-decision despite having a 2.14 ERA in those games. NOTES: Nats OF Bryce Harper (left thumb) went 2 for 3 with a home run and four RBIs in his second rehab start for Potomac against Salem. He fielded one ground ball single while playing centre field. C Wilson Ramos (wrist) also played in the game and went 2 for 5 with two RBIs. . A foul tip from Gomez became lodged in the grill of Lobatons mask in the second inning. Home plate umpire Andy Fletcher had to pull it from the mask. Gomez struck out on the next pitch. ' ' '