NEW YORK (AP) — Mathew Barzal had a goal and two assists, and the New York Islanders defeated the NHL-leading Colorado Avalanche 6-3 on Thursday night.

Kyle MacLean, Anders Lee, Bo Horvat and Adam Pelech also scored a goal for the Islanders, who won their second straight. Ilya Sorokin finished with 35 saves and Casey Cizikas added an empty-net goal.

Valeri Nichushkin, Martin Necas and Artturi Lehkonen scored for Colorado. Mackenzie Blackwood made 36 saves.

The Avalanche's 17-game point streak was snapped and they lost in the first game of their four-game East Coast road trip.

Barzal scored with less than two minutes remaining in the second period to extend the Islanders’ lead to 5-2 when he converted a backhander on the power play.

The Avalanche scored two goals in 85 seconds to cut their deficit to 4-2 midway through the second period.

Nichushkin redirected a point shot, and Necas benefited from a fortuitous bounce off the skate of Islanders defenseman Travis Mitchell at 10:04 of the middle frame.

But Barzal’s highlight-reel goal helped New York regain control and hand Colorado just its second regulation loss in 27 games this season.

Lee buried a cross-ice pass from Barzal with 1:40 remaining in the opening period to make it 2-0 after MacLean opened the scoring at 5:56.

Horvat knocked in a Matthew Schaefer rebound for his team-leading 17th goal, pushing New York’s lead to 3-0 at 6:58 of the second.

Lee has 295 career goals for the Islanders, tied with Brock Nelson for fifth in franchise history.

Nelson, who returned to UBS Arena for his first game since being dealt last winter from the Islanders to the Avalanche, also received a video tribute during the first period.

Up next

Avalanche: Colorado remains in New York to play the Rangers on Saturday.

Islanders: New York visits the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday.

Broncos eyeing AFC West crown thanks to series of comebacks and face Raiders next

LAS VEGAS (AP) — It's certainly not pretty the way the Broncos are playing, and their 10-2 record has led many around the NFL to wonder if this team is for real.

Denver is doing what Kansas City did last season in clinching its ninth consecutive AFC West title — finding new and creative ways to win.

But the Broncos, who can take another step Sunday at Las Vegas to supplant the Chiefs atop the division, are doing it at an even crazier level.

They have been forced to rally in all 10 of their wins, including the current nine-game streak that includes a 10-7 victory over the Raiders on Nov. 6. No team has ever pulled off that many consecutive comebacks.

Bo Nix has orchestrated six winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime.

“You learn how to not lose, you learn how to not beat yourself, and you just learn a little bit of how to control the controllables and control the jitters when you get down to the end of the game,” Nix said. “It’s just a belief I think that you’ve done it before, and you’re going to be able to do it again.”

How the Broncos are winning has their fans thinking back to 2015, when Denver used a similar formula of an elite defense and a close-to-the-vest offense to win the Super Bowl.

But the Broncos have plenty of work to do before they can think about holding up the Lombardi Trophy, and part of that includes trying to sweep a 2-10 Raiders team that seems lost in the Nevada desert.

Las Vegas has lost six straight and 10 of 11. First-year coach Pete Carroll axed coordinators Tom McMahon (special teams) and Chip Kelly (offense) last month with the hopes of finding some kind of spark.

It hasn't happened and, if anything, the Raiders seem to be regressing. They have scored 47 points in their past four games.

They did play Denver tight a month ago and had chances to win, but as they have done against other opponents, the Broncos found a way to get the job done.

“They’ve had remarkable games, comebacks and finishes and all that kind of thing that we really respect,” Carroll said. “So we know we’re up against a really tough opponent, but yet we did match up all right. So we’re looking forward to see if we can take the next step.”

Payton's short memory

They say cornerbacks have to have short memories. Maybe head coaches and quarterbacks, too?

Nix is hitting his stride just like he did down the stretch last year during his rookie campaign, but his coach has been loath to compare the QB's two NFL seasons. Sean Payton isn’t about to look back now, not with so much ahead of his team as it jostles for playoff position.

“I can’t even remember last year, honestly,” Payton said. “We’re wanting to improve as a team. We’re wanting to continue to improve. I’m sure he feels the same way, but I wouldn’t draw any comparisons to last year at this time. It seems like 10 years ago.”

Tough rookie year for Jeanty

Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty was drafted sixth with the hopes he would elevate the league’s worst rushing attack.

That hasn’t happened.

Las Vegas is again last, averaging 75.4 yards per game. Jeanty averages 52.9 yards per game and 3.5 per attempt. How much of that is on him is debatable given the offensive line’s struggles, but Jeanty has five games remaining to end the season on a high note.

Jeanty said he looks at video more than statistics to judge his performances.

“So just continued improvement in that sort of way,” Jeanty said. “But stats don’t always show that.”

Surtain at full strength

The Raiders will have to contend with the NFL’s reigning defensive player of the year, cornerback Pat Surtain II, who missed the teams’ first meeting as he recovered from a strained chest muscle that sidelined him for a month. Surtain returned last week against Washington and recorded four tackles and a pass breakup.

“It felt good finally get to go back out there, knock some rust off a little bit,” Surtain said. “This was the longest time I’ve been out my whole career, so I just had to get back to the basics and settle in. It felt good going out there, getting the win and being out there with the guys. There isn’t a better feeling in the world just to go out there and play football like a little kid again.”

Carroll embraces analytics

Carroll might be 74, but he has evolved with the times when it comes to using analytics to decide whether to go for it on fourth down.

One model, in fact, ranked the Raiders first in making the proper decisions in such scenarios.

“We try to get through everything we can think of, and when we can predetermine how we would go, then it’s a matter of when the opportunity arises, you capture what the thinking is, and then you go ahead and make the call,” Carroll said. “There is some gut situations in here, and for years and years and years, that’s how I did it. I did it right from the gut, and now we have a nice group and nice connection.”

Broncos' new addition: What Elijah Moore brings to the team

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos have added Elijah Moore to their practice squad following the veteran wide receiver's release from the Buffalo Bills.

“Obviously, he’s been a really good player at places that he’s been, so it adds some depth for this run we’re about to go on,” quarterback Bo Nix said Wednesday.

The Bills released Moore last week after signing 12th-year receiver Brandin Cooks. Moore had nine catches for 112 yards in nine games for the Bills after signing a one-year, $5 million free agent deal.

“We had some exposure to him, some experience with some guys on our staff," Broncos coach Sean Payton said. "You’re always paying attention to that wire and if someone comes across it that you feel like either can help now or maybe in the future. I think it was more of us looking at a talented player.”

Payton has steadfastly insisted he likes his group of wideouts and Denver made no move at the trade deadline to augment their receiving corps. What the Broncos (10-2) have been willing to do, however, is sign veterans to their practice squad such as tight end Marcedes Lewis and wide receiver Lil'Jordan Humphrey last month.

Moore could be elevated on game days over the final five weeks of the season. The Broncos, who visit the Las Vegas Raiders this weekend, are vying to end Kansas City's nine-year reign atop the AFC West and are chasing the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoff field. They're a-half game behind New England (11-2).

Moore also has played for the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets, who drafted him in the second round in 2021 out of Ole Miss. He had a 61-catch season last year in Cleveland and has nine career touchdowns.