Clutterbuck, Islanders hang on to outduel league-leading Stars

Cal Clutterbuck looked like his night may have been over after a dangerous second-period hit, but the New York Islanders forward came back to score two goals to help lead his team past the NHL-best Dallas Stars by a score of 6-5 in Brooklyn.

.@NYIslanders lead the Eastern Conference with a record of 12-4-1 (25 pts) vs. Western Conference clubs this season. pic.twitter.com/SEEMo1HMS1

- NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 4, 2016

Kyle Okposo finished with a three-point night (two goals, one assist), while Anders Lee and Mikhail Grabovski also found the back of the net for the Islanders. A 36-save performance from Thomas Greiss helped seal the win for New York.

Jason Demers received a five-minute boarding penalty and a game misconduct for his hit on Clutterbuck, who had fallen to his knees before being driven into the wall by the Stars defenseman. The Islanders forward appeared to be shaken up on the play, but would come back to score the team's final two goals.

The always potent Stars offense was surprisingly led by Valeri Nichushkin, who scored two and added an assist in his return from a lower-body injury. Vernon Fiddler, Patrick Sharp, and Jason Spezza also scored for Dallas, who lost consecutive games for the first time this season.

With the win, the Islanders take a three-point lead over the New York Rangers for second place in the Metropolitan Division. The Islanders will then take on the East-leading Washington Capitals on Thursday.

Copyright (C) 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.