NEW YORK -- Winning five out of their last six games hasn't completely undone the self-inflicted damage the New York Islanders suffered in the first six weeks of the season. But it's helped convince the Islanders they were correct in believing they were much closer to becoming a contender than their record indicated.

"You can go through stretches where nothing seems to be going right, even though you're playing well," Islanders center Anders Lee said after scoring two goals Thursday night, including the game-winner with 7:18 left in the third period, in a 3-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues at Barclays Center. "And it's really hard to talk the positives, especially when you're not winning games."

The Islanders (11-10-5) are finding it far easier to discuss the positives after going 5-0-1 in the last 11 days, a stretch in which they have beaten four teams currently occupying a playoff spot. With the victory Thursday, New York moved out of the basement in the Metropolitan Division and the Eastern Conference, and within six points of the Washington Capitals for the final wild card spot.

The Islanders have been tied in the third period in four of their last five wins. That's quite a departure from the template they followed in their first 20 games, during which they went 6-10-4 and allowed the tying or go-ahead goal in the final three minutes of regulation five times.

"It was kind of one of those things where we knew we were right there early on in the season," Lee said. "We just weren't closing out games and coming away with nothing."

Lee helped the Islanders start and close Thursday, when the Blues took the lead at 4:36 of the first period on a goal by Robby Fabbri. But Lee tied the game only 2:25 later, when he redirected a shot from the blue line by Nick Leddy, and John Tavares scored to put New York on top with 10:29 remaining in the period.

Kyle Brodziak tied the game for the Blues 3:33 into the second and the teams remained knotted until late in the third, when Casey Cizikas won a faceoff deep in the St. Louis zone. The puck bounced to Lee, who immediately fired a shot that sailed past the glove of Jake Allen.

Coach Jack Capuano said he followed a hunch in placing Cizikas, a usual fourth-liner, in the faceoff circle.

"Sometimes you have a feeling on certain guys on offensive draws," Capuano said. "And Casey won a big one He usually does that at crucial times. And it was good to see Anders get the shot away."

Goalie Thomas Greiss (24 saves) stopped the final five shots he faced, including two with Allen pulled, to preserve the victory.

"I just think we're playing with some resiliency and some emotion to our game right now," Capuano said. "And whether they tie it up or we're down by one, I think that we have that no quit attitude. We got our identity back a little bit."

Allen made 24 saves for the Blues (15-8-4), who lost for only the third time in 11 games (8-2-1).

"We just left the game to chance," Brodziak said. "We didn't really do enough to really gain control of the game. That's what happens. They're a team that's playing well and they're playing with confidence and they were able to make a play and score a goal."

The Blues fell to 3-7-1 on the road as they began a four-game road trip, which continues against the New Jersey Devils on Friday night.

"We had a pretty solid game, a pretty intense game," Fabbri said. "You've got to take the positives from things like this when you're on the road and carry it over to (Friday) night."

NOTES: The Islanders scratched C Ryan Strome (flu-like symptoms) as well as G Jaroslav Halak and D Scott Mayfield. ... Islanders D Johnny Boychuk, who missed Tuesday's 4-2 win over the New York Rangers due to flu-like symptoms, returned to the lineup. ... The Blues scratched D Brad Hunt, RW Ty Rattie and RW Nail Yakupov. Hunt was recalled Wednesday from Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League. ... The Blues cancelled their morning skate due to heavy traffic between their Manhattan hotel and Barclays Center. The Blues remain in Manhattan on Thursday night prior to their game against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on Friday.