Pittsburgh Penguins' Derek Grant (38) checks New York Islanders' Luca Sbisa during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Pittsburgh Penguins' Derek Grant (38) checks New York Islanders' Luca Sbisa during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Credit: Gene J. Puskar

Tampa, Fla. — Mathieu Joseph and Anthony Cirelli scored early in the third period and the Tampa Bay Lightning won their fifth consecutive game by beating the Boston Bruins, 3-2, on Thursday night.

After Joseph scored at 2:40, Cirelli put home a short-handed backhand 1:23 later to make it 3-1.

Boston pulled to 3-2 on David Krejci’s goal with 1:45 remaining.

Brayden Point also scored and Louis Domingue made 33 saves for the Lightning, who have the NHL’s best record at 22-7-1.

David Pastrnak had a goal for Boston, and Tuukka Rask stopped 27 shots. The Bruins have lost three in a row and four of five.

Point got his 21st goal, including seven over his last eight games, to tie it 1-all with 5:01 left in the first. Nikita Kucherov set up the goal with a backhand pass and has 20 assists and 25 points in his last 12 games.

Pastrnak got his 20th goal in his 28th game this season on a rebound 2:04 into the game. Jaromir Jagr — on four different occasions — is the only Czech-born player to reach the 20-goal mark in fewer games.

Domingue made a pad save on a late first-period breakaway by Pastrnak, who went to his backhand.

Boston activated defenseman Charlie McAvoy, who had been sidelined since Oct. 20 due to a concussion. The injury-depleted Bruins are still without center Patrice Bergeron (ribs), and defensemen Zdeno Chara (lower body), Kevan Miller (throat) and Urho Vaakanainen (concussion).

Notes: Krejci tied current Bruins president Cam Neely for 10th place in team history with 590 points. … The Bruins claimed forward Gemel Smith off waivers from Dallas, sent D Connor Clifton to Providence of the AHL and placed Miller on injured reserve. Miller, hurt on Nov. 26, will be re-evaluated in four weeks.

Penguins 6, Islanders 2

Pittsburgh — Kris Letang and Phil Kessel each scored twice for Pittsburgh.

Kessel also had two assists, Sidney Crosby scored his 15th goal and had two assists, and Riley Sheahan scored his fourth goal. The Penguins have won two straight and five of eight following a slump in which they won once in 10 games.

Blue Jackets 4, Flyers 3 (ot)

Philadelphia — Seth Jones scored his second goal of the game 10 seconds into overtime to lift Columbus over Philadelphia.

Avalanche 5, Panthers 2

Sunrise, Fla. — Carl Soderberg scored twice, J.T. Compher broke a third-period tie and Colorado beat Florida.

Red Wings 5, Maple Leafs 4 (ot)

Toronto — Dylan Larkin scored on a breakaway at 2:48 of overtime, and Detroit beat Toronto after blowing a three-goal lead in the third period.

Larkin beat Garret Sparks between the pads to snap Toronto’s five-game winning streak.

Canadiens 5, Senators 2

Ottawa, Ontario— Paul Byron scored twice and Montreal beat Ottawa to sweep the home-and home series.

Jeff Petry, Brendan Gallagher and Andrew Shaw also scored, and Carey Price stopped 19 shots. The Canadiens also beat the Senators, 5-2, on Tuesday night in Montreal.