Islanders keep playoff hopes alive with win over Panthers

SUNRISE, Fla. — Semyon Varlamov made 27 saves and Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored the go-ahead goal midway through the second period to help lift the New York Islanders past the Florida Panthers 3-2 on Thursday night.

"He was stellar," Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock said of Varlamov. "He made huge saves in big moments, he played the puck well and he looked really solid back there and was a key part of that win."

Pulock and Mathew Barzal also scored and Casey Cizikas had two assists for New York, which had lost six of its last seven and dropped in the Eastern Conference wild-card standings.

"The key was the start of the game," Islanders coach Patrick Roy said. "We knew they were going to come out…