GLENDALE: Arizona Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet praised center Nick Cousins after, not just for his game-winning goal against the New York Islanders but also for his improved overall play.

Cousins scored his second goal of the game 2:21 into overtime to lift the Coyotes to a 3-2 win over the Islanders on Monday night.

“I’ve got to give him a lot of credit,” Tocchet said. “He’s done really well. I’ve sat him out this year. He’s worked on his game. He’s always got a smile on his face coming to work to practice. He’s worked on his game and he’s starting to reap the benefits.”

Cousins added an assist and the Coyotes ran their points streak to five games, a season high. Arizona has points from seven of eight games, with six of those going to overtime. Brendan Perlini scored for the third time in three games and Antti Raanta stopped 32 shots.

“One thing we’ve got to do is we’ve got to expect to win,” Tocchet said. “I hate hoping, I want expecting.”

Anthony Beauvillier had his second straight two-goal game for the Islanders, who have lost three of four and eight of 12. Beauvillier has eight goals in the last seven games. Jaroslav Halak finished with 30 saves.

The winning play started with a key save from Raanta that led to a Coyotes rush. Cousins passed to Christian Fischer, then skated to the front of the net for Fischer’s pinpoint pass and put away the winner with a backhand for his seventh of the season and first-ever overtime goal.

“I think since we turned the page here in 2018 we have all four lines contributing,” Cousins said. “It’s been fun coming to the rink, right?”

Agence France-Presse