Kyle Okposo scores with 14.4 seconds left in overtime and Islanders beat Hurricanes 4-3

Okposo’s overtime goal lifts Islanders over Canes

RALEIGH, N.C. — Kyle Okposo scored with 14.4 second left in overtime, and John Tavares had the first two-goal game to help the New York Islanders beat Carolina 4-3 on Friday night, extending the Hurricanes’ winless streak to 14 games.

Mark Streit added a goal, and Martin Biron made 25 saves for New York. The Islanders blew a three-goal lead before winning in overtime.

Questionable for the game because of swine flu, Okposo took advantage of a Carolina turnover and snapped the puck past Hurricanes goalie Manny Legace.

After a slow start, New York is 6-2-3 in its last 11 games.

Tuomo Ruutu, Ray Whitney and Tim Gleason scored for Carolina. The Hurricanes matched the franchise record with their 14-game winless streak.

With Gleason in the penalty box for roughing and unsportsmanlike conduct, Tavares got the Islanders on the board 3:38 into the game. The first overall draft pick took advantage of a rebound off the boards behind the net, waiting for the puck to drop below the crossbar before swatting it into an open net.

Streit scored on Gleason’s second penalty, one-timing a shot from the blue line to beat Legace on the blocker side.

The Islanders took a 3-0 lead later in the first period when Tavares cleaned a scramble in front of the Hurricanes’ net. It was the third straight game New York scored three goals in the first period, something the Islanders hadn’t done since 1980.

Carolina showed its first signs of life in the second.

Ruutu scored on the man advantage, cleaning up a loose pick in front of Biron for the Hurricanes’ first power-play goal in seven games. Whitney then tipped in Andrew Alberts’ wrist shot from the point to bring Carolina within one.

Tim Gleason’s seemingly innocuous slap shot from the point eluded Biron with 2:31 remaining in the third period to tie the score.

Carolina hasn’t won a game since Oct. 9.

Legace, making his second start for the Hurricanes since signing Monday, made 21 saves.

After losing all four games to Carolina last season, New York is 2-0-0 against the Hurricanes this season.

NOTES: Carolina D Joni Pitkanen returned to the lineup after a one-game absence. … It was the second game of a seven-game road trip for the Islanders. … Carolina had outscored its opponent in the second period for the first time this season.

(This version CORRECTS Islanders 4, Hurricanes 3, OT. SUBS 2nd graf to correct Biron’s saves to 25.)