John Tavares' white-hot January ended with a four-point game Tuesday in Carolina, and it resulted in him being tabbed as the NHL's first star of the month.

That's the type of team-carrying performance the Islanders have come to expect from the No. 1 pick in the 2009 draft, but coach Jack Capuano knows his top-heavy team isn't likely to bridge its gap in the playoff chase without offensive contributions from other sources.

"Now, during this stretch, we have to find a way for other guys to score some goals, put points on the board," Capuano said. "We have to get some secondary scoring."

The Isles' 2-1 overtime win Friday in Ottawa represented a step in that direction, with Tavares held off the scoresheet for only the second time in his last 16 games.

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Back by popular demand, here are your Puck Previews: Spotlighting the key games in NHL action, news and views as well as general frivolity. Make sure to stop back here for the nightly Three Stars when the games are finished. … Continue reading ?

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No. 1 Star: Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers With no Ryan Suter and no Pekka Rinne, the Nashville Predators weren't quite themselves, falling 3-0 on goals by Dan Girardi, John Mitchell, and Ryan Callahan. That said, it might not have … Continue reading ?

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The Philadelphia Flyers have been winning with regularity since their Winter Classic loss to the New York Rangers. Another chance to play New York's other team provided an even bigger lift. Backup goalie Sergei Bobrovsky continued his superlative play against the Islanders, stopping 33 shots, and the Flyers won for the 26th time in 28 games against Long Island's team, 3-2 on Thursday night.

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ANAHEIM, Calif. - Ryan Getzlaf, Bobby Ryan and Corey Perry finally clicked in the same game for the struggling Anaheim Ducks.

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With wins over Calgary and Edmonton to close out 2011, the Islanders oddly improved to 14-1-7 at home against Western Conference teams dating to November 2009.

Of course, the Isles haven't played nearly as well within their own conference—the East—or in the loaded Atlantic Division. And they arrived in the New Year well out of a playoff spot before returning to action Tuesday in Carolina.

"Consistency has been our problem all year," Frans Nielsen said before Saturday's 4-1 win over Edmonton. "We know what we have to do, but for some reason there are some games where we don't bring it. ... When we turn pucks over, we make more mental mistakes, make bad decisions. It's not that we don't compete hard.

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The Islanders were livid with a late officiating call in their 5-3 loss Friday to Toronto, but no one was about to blame their second straight loss on a referee's decision.

While the Isles clawed back into the game after spotting the Maple Leafs the first three goals in the first period, they know they shouldn't have to rely on such comebacks, especially during home games at Nassau Coliseum.

"We were a little sluggish. We battled back, but we made too many mistakes and dug ourselves too deep a hole early," center John Tavares said. "We have got to understand games like these, after tough travel weeks, days we don't feel very good, we have to find ways to win. Especially against a team like this that we are chasing in the standings."

Tavares' goal cut Toronto's lead...

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UNIONDALE, N.Y. - Jamie Benn can't explain the correlation between his multi-point games and the Dallas Stars' success.

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Do not make too big a deal about the stats, warn the Calgary Flames.

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PITTSBURGH, Pa. - The great wait is finally over for Sidney Crosby.

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