Islanders 7, Stars 3: Captain John Tavares tied a personal best with five points, including his fifth career hat trick, as host New York erupted for four goals in the second period to defeat Dallas.

Ryan Strome scored his first NHL goal while Peter Regin, Brock Nelson and defenseman Brian Strait also tallied for the Islanders, who won in regulation at home for the first time since Nov. 12. Tavares extended his point streak to six contests while Kevin Poulin allowed two goals on 15 shots in relief of Evgeni Nabokov, who made seven saves before leaving in the first period due to a lower-body injury.

Captain Jamie Benn, Erik Cole and rookie Valeri Nichushkin scored for the Stars, who have surrendered 18 goals in losing their last three meetings with Eastern Conference opponents. Rich Peverley notched two assists and Kari Lehtonen made 36 saves.

Dallas led 2-0 after 20 minutes, but Strome started New York’s rampage by lifting a rebound over Lehtonen during a power play 1:41 into the second period. Tavares began his impressive night at 7:29, Regin gave the Islanders the lead with his first goal since Oct. 8 two minutes later and Nelson snapped a 3-3 tie in the final minute of the period with his first tally in 18 games.

Strait continued the barrage off a feed from Tavares 1:24 into the third. The captain cut to the net from the corner and put a backhander around Lehtonen while on the power play at 6:19 and fired a shot from the high slot past the netminder during a 5-on-3 advantage with 3:07 remaining to cap the scoring.

GAME NOTEBOOK: New York placed Nabokov on injured reserve after the game and recalled G Anders Nilsson from Bridgeport of the American Hockey League. ... Tavares, who reached 20 goals for the fifth straight season, also recorded five points as a rookie at Vancouver on March 16, 2010. He has registered 300 points in 334 career games. … Dallas fell to 6-6-1 against the East.