Nobody said it outright in the lead up to the first of a back-to-back, home-and-home matchup with the Penguins on Saturday, but winning this set of games — or at least avoiding a sweep — was as essential a task as the Islanders have faced all season.

Duclair gave the Islanders a 2-1 lead at 5:39 of the middle frame off the rush. Kyle Palmieri collected a puck just inside the Penguins’ zone before he found Duclair cutting toward the low slot on an odd-man rush for a finish past Jarry’s blocker.

NEW YORK (AP) — Casey Cizikas and Anders Lee each scored twice and the New York Islanders beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-3 on Saturday night. Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Anthony Duclair also scored, and Mathew Barzal and Alexander Romanov each had two assists for New York, which had lost three of four. Ilya Sorokin finished with 22 saves.

The New York Islanders (14-15-7) dug deep and beat the Pittsburgh Penguins (16-16-5) 6-3 on Saturday Night in UBS Arena. Casey Cizikas and Anders Lee scored two goals each, leading New York past the recently hot Penguins.

Casey Cizikas posted his first two-goal game in more than three years Saturday night, leading the New York Islanders to a 6-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins in the opener of a back-to-back, home-and-home set in Elmont,

The Islanders come out firing in the second period with goals from Anthony Duclair, Anders Lee and Casey Cizikas giving them a 4-1 lead over the Penguins.

Casey Cizikas and Anders Lee each scored twice and the New York Islanders beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-3 on Saturday night.

Islanders shake off dismal showing against Sabres for much-needed win, face Penguins again on Sunday in Pittsburgh.