Lee scores in final minute, Schaefer has 2 more goals as the Islanders beat the Panthers 5-4

The 18-year-old Schaeffer has 20 goals, three behind Hall of Famer Brian Leetch for the most by a rookie defenseman in NHL history.

Sam Bennett scored twice and Sandis Vilmanis and Sam Reinhart each had a goal for Florida, which lost its second in a row. Sergei Bobrovsky made 21 saves for the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers, who are eight points out of a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

Lee finished a backhand-to-forehand move for his third straight game with a goal to put the Islanders ahead for good with 32 seconds left.

Schaefer had given the Islanders a 4-3 lead with his second goal of the game midway through the third period when he walked in from the blue line and beat Bobrovsky with a wrist shot.

Reinhart tied it at 4 with 1:58 remaining after coach Paul Maurice pulled Bobrovsky for an extra attacker.

Florida took a 2-0 lead with two goals in the first period. Vilmanis slid a backhander through Rittich’s legs at 3:44 and Bennett scored on the power play later in the period.

The Islanders pulled within 2-1 late in the first when Schaefer’s slap shot deflected several times and bounced over Bobrovsky.

Soucy tied it at 2 with less than eight minutes left in the second.

Bennett restored Florida’s lead at 3-2 with his second goal, slipping a backhand under Rittich’s blocker. But Horvat scored his team-leading 25th goal to make it 3-3 with less than three minutes remaining in the second.

Islanders forward Jonathan Drouin didn't play because of a lower-body injury.

Up next

Panthers: Visit New Jersey on Tuesday.

Islanders: Visit Anaheim on Wednesday to begin a four-game road trip.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl