Kyle Okposo scored at 4:45 of overtime and John Tavares had the first two-goal game of his young NHL career to help the New York Islanders beat Carolina 4-3 on Friday night, extending the Hurricanes' winless streak to a franchise-tying 14 games.

Questionable for the game because of a recent bout of swine flu, Okposo took advantage of a Carolina turnover and snapped the puck past Hurricanes goalie Manny Legace.

"I feel pretty good," said Okposo, who sat out Wednesday night against Washington. "It felt good to contribute again. It's tough watching."

With time winding down in overtime, Hurricanes defenceman Bryan Rodney tried to clear the Carolina zone. Okposo anticipated the play and intercepted the puck before beating Legace on the blocker side.

"I looked up and felt something on my stick," Okposo said. "I just tried to shoot something quick. Fortunately, it got over his pad."

Islanders blew lead

Mark Streit added a goal and Martin Biron made 26 saves for visiting New York. The Islanders blew a three-goal lead before winning in overtime to improve to 6-2-3 in their last 11 games after a slow start.

"We're really finding our chemistry," Tavares said. "We're making the big plays when we need them most."

Tuomo Ruutu, Ray Whitney and Tim Gleason scored for Carolina, which hasn't won since Oct. 9.

"This is a tough one to take because of, obviously, the mistake I made at the end," Rodney said. "It cost us. To do that to the rest of the guys in the room is tough to swallow. I guess we'll look at the positives.

"We fought hard to get back in the game. We earned the point today."

With Gleason in the penalty box for roughing and unsportsmanlike conduct, Tavares got the Islanders on the board at 3:38 into the game.

Scored off boards

The 2009 first overall draft pick took advantage of a rebound off the boards behind the net, waiting for the puck to drop below the crossbar before swatting it into an open net.

Streit scored on Gleason's second penalty, one-timing a shot from the blue-line to beat Legace on the blocker side.

The Islanders took a 3-0 lead later in the first period when Tavares converted on a scramble in front of the Hurricanes' net. It was the third straight game New York had scored three goals in the first period, something the Islanders hadn't done since 1980.

Carolina showed its first signs of life in the second.

Ruutu scored on the man advantage, cleaning up a loose puck in front of Biron for the Hurricanes' first power-play goal in seven games. Whitney then tipped in Andrew Alberts's wrist shot from the point to bring Carolina within one goal.

Tim Gleason's seemingly innocuous slap shot from the point eluded Biron with 2:31 remaining in the third period to tie the score.

Legace, making his second start for the Hurricanes since signing Monday, made 21 saves.

After losing all four games to Carolina last season, New York is 2-0-0 against the Hurricanes this season. Carolina defenceman Joni Pitkanen returned to the lineup after a one-game absence.