UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) — With goalie Semyon Varlamov out of position in the closing seconds, New York defenseman Ryan Pulock knew he needed to get in the way of Ryan McDonagh’s shot at the open net. It was the biggest play in the Islanders’ latest series-tying Game 4 win.

Matt Martin capped a three-goal second period, Pulock made a diving stop and the Islanders held on to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 Saturday night to even their Stanley Cup semifinal series at two games apiece.

Josh Bailey and Mathew Barzal also scored, and Cal Clutterbuck and Adam Pelech each had two assists. Semyon Varlamov finished with 28 saves to help the Islanders win a Game 4 to tie a series after dropping the previous game at home for the third time this postseason.

But Pulock made the biggest save with the game on the line.

McDonagh had the puck on the left side in the waning seconds, spun around to get away from Brock Nelson and drew Varlamov forward before sending the puck at the open net. But Pulock’s dive kept the puck out and preserved the win.

“McDonagh got a puck walking down and Varly came out and challenged,” Pulock said. “He made a heck of a play with the spin-o-rama, the net was open and I just tried to make myself big and take it away and I was able to get it.

“Obviously you hear the sound, the clock go and all the boys jump on you. It’s a good feeling.”

Pulock drew plenty of praise from his teammates.

“That’s a special play,” Bailey said. “Patience to just stick with it. It was a great play by him, a game-saving play, obviously. Huge.”

Barzal agreed, adding: “I think everybody’s breath got taken away when that puck was coming. I thought it was going in and then just a miraculous play by Pulley. I’m not going to be forgetting that one.”

Brayden Point had a goal for the seventh straight game, and Tyler Johnson also scored for the defending champion Lightning.