Richards breaks Isles' back as Rangers run streak to seven

There it was. Matt Moulson injected some life into his struggling team. After he buried a John Tavares saucer pass for a power play equalizer, Nassau Coliseum was alive. There were the Islanders, who entered with only one win in 10, all knotted with their longtime nemesis from Manhattan. The Rangers rolled in winners of six straight. None of that mattered when one of the game's best rivalries was renewed. You could feel the intensity both on the ice and in the stands where noise was at a feverish pitch. It didn't matter what the teams' records were in the second grudge match of six. This was no holds barred.

That's how you could describe almost any game the Rangers and Islanders play. Battles all over the ice. Hitting. Scrums. Fights. Penalties. Goals. Goaltending. Yes, last night's latest installment had all those key factors which exemplifies exciting hockey that's on the edge. Unfortunately for the Long Island hosts, they fell just a little short again, dropping a tough 4-2 decision for their 10th defeat over the last 11. Challenged by their coach Jack Capuano, the Islanders gave a valiant effort. However, the latest big ticket Ranger star delivered the crushing goal late that decided it. The Rangers signed Brad Richards for such moments. Richy Rich didn't disappoint notching the game-winner with 4:55 left in regulation. The Islanders came oh so close with Andrew MacDonald hitting a post in the dying minute but couldn't get one more past Henrik Lundqvist, who was brilliant finishing with 31 saves.

“It’s frustrating,” Capuano lamented after his team's latest defeat. “We played one of our better games. ... We have to get secondary scoring to win."

That's been a huge problem for the Isles who fell to 4-8-3 and sit dead last in the East with 11 points. Fifteen games in, a club many felt would challenge for the playoffs is already digging a hole. They trail eighth Ottawa by eight points with defending champ Boston turning it around. It could be a long climb with New Jersey and Tampa Bay likely to be in the mix. Don't discount Carolina either. In an improved conference with early surprises Toronto and Florida, the Islanders can ill afford to have another lull like last year that got Scott Gordon canned.

"It's frustrating. These are the ones you really have to learn from. [The win] was right there [for the taking]," second-year blueliner Travis Hamonic said. "We had it. We made just one mistake and it ended up in our net. At the end of the day we have to learn from that, and now this one is put away. It's a bad feeling. This is a feeling we don't want anymore."

While the Rangers are sitting pretty in a three-way log jam behind first overall Pittsburgh while tied with fifth Philadelphia, the Isles have their work cut out on a pivotal homestand. It shouldn't get any easier when Montreal and Boston visit tomorrow and Saturday before Capuano's club travels to Pittsburgh where Sidney Crosby could be awaiting if the latest rumors are true about a possible return this weekend. They also host the Flyers and Devils next week with a home-and-home in Newark following Black Friday. The Isles end the month with a visit at Buffalo. Not an easy game in the sched. Especially when you're not finishing. Outside of leading scorer Tavares' line, they've been firing blanks.

It didn't help that they ran into one of the game's best in Henrik Lundqvist, who aside from a softy to Frans Nielsen, stood on his head. King Henrik made acrobatic stops, including a signature header before diving across with the right glove to rob an Islander of a certain goal. The Islanders also got brilliant netminding from Evgeni Nabokov, who couldn't quite make it two for two against the Blueshirts despite 26 saves. A few were sparklers, including a sprawling stop to deny Derek Stepan's stuff try with the Isles' goalie down and out. The problem was Josh Bailey's feeble clear attempt cost them dearly. Tied at two with dueling chants from a galvanized crowd, one mistake decided it. Bailey tried going up the middle but his soft backhand was easily intercepted by Brandon Dubinsky, who quickly dished to an open Richards who did the rest- blasting one upstairs with Ryan Callahan screening a helpless Nabokov.

"Whenever you play in this building, it’s up and down, and you never know what’s going to happen,” Ranger coach John Tortorella said. “Richie has had some big plays for us early on here. I thought that it was probably one of his better games.”

“We signed him for nine years. That’s exactly why we signed him,” Lundqvist noted of Richards' heroics. “A guy like that, he has a tendency to step up at the right time. His focus is good when it comes down to the final minutes, when you need that extra play. It’s great to see.”

Early on, Sean Avery got the party started scoring for the second consecutive game when he steered home his own rebound. His sudden emergence was rewarded with the once exiled Ranger getting 12 minutes, including a big shift late where his forechecking kept the Islanders pinned in. Nielsen replied back less than three minutes later when his high wrister trickled off Lundqvist's glove, squaring it. Hamonic and P.A. Parenteau combined to spring Nielsen for his fourth. Avery renewed pleasantries with Mike Mottau following matching roughs. Apparently, the ex-Devil can't let go. So, the two fought 69 seconds into the second. It wasn't the only scrap with Brandon Prust battling Islander enforcer Matt Martin 1:45 later.

Though the Isles were better in the second testing Lundqvist, an unlikely source scored the lone goal when Steve Eminger of all people took a brilliant Callahan cross-ice feed and beat Nabokov five-hole. “I saw him creeping in a little bit,” Callahan said. “I was trying to buy him a little bit of time to get him back there. I saw him and made the pass.”

The Rangers had a golden opportunity to salt it away but failed on an extended five-on-three late in the second with Richards hitting goal post. Credit the Isles' penalty killers with outstanding work, blocking a few shots that never reached Nabokov, who was there when needed. That left the door open. After the Blueshirts failed on another power play in the third, two straight penalties finally bit them with Moulson getting his fifth from Tavares and Nielsen to level it with 13:02 remaining. That allowed Richards to play the hero late. A mad scramble late didn't tie the game despite several chances. Eventually, Callahan scored into an open net with under a second left, icing it.

BONY 3 Stars:

3rd Star: Henrik Lundqvist, NYR (31 saves)
2nd Star: Frans Nielsen, NYI (goal-4th of season, assist)
1st Star: Brad Richards, NYR (GW w/4:55 left)

Game Preview: Islanders and Pens renew rivalry tonight

The bell will sound at 7 ET tonight in Long Island. Bring out Michael Buffer. "Let's Get Ready To Rumble!!!!!" Cue classic 2Unlimited "Get Ready For This."

Alright. So, maybe we're going a bit overboard about Round One of Pens/Isles at Nassau Coliseum with the rematch Thursday in Pittsburgh. It's well documented what transpired during the last two meetings of '10-11, stemming from a Brent Johnson KO of Rick DiPietro that concussed the unlucky Islander franchise netminder. The Islanders didn't take too kindly to laughter on the Pen bench, earning revenge on the scoreboard and everywhere else by routing them 9-3 and literally beating their old Patrick division rival up. When it was over, 15 fights, 10 game misconducts, 20 misconducts and a combined 346 penalty minutes that would make Reggie Dunlap and The Hansons proud resulted in suspensions for Trevor Gillies and Matt Martin, along with a $100,000 fine.

In retrospect, the Islanders overreacted. Jack Capuano should've called the dogs off in the third because the message was sent loud and clear. Instead, E-Z target Max Talbot got what was coming along with any other Pen they went after. It was ugly. Even if you enjoy Slap Shot, it went overboard, which had to have Gary Bettman shaking.

“For me, it’s not even a rivalry, it’s just another game because obviously the last two games we didn’t play a full 60 minutes, so it doesn’t matter who we are playing right now,” Capuano told NYIslanders.com.

His club must focus on getting back on track after dropping two in a row. Consecutive losses to Tampa (4-1) and Florida (4-2) have the Islanders back at .500 (3-3-0) entering a home-and-home against a team they haven't historically done well against. The Pens own a 19-4-2 record over the last 25 meetings. John Tavares, Al Montoya, Mark Streit and Co. will be looking to change that trend in a year they're expected to compete for the playoffs. The Isles have plenty of weapons but a few aren't chipping in. More is needed from Kyle Okposo, Blake Comeau and Josh Bailey, who have yet to score a goal with only an assist coming off the stick of Okposo, who's expected to break out. It's time.

The Pens amaze under last year's Jack Adams winner Dan Bylsma, who has his team in first with a 6-2-2 mark. Sure. They've played more than anyone else but it's very impressive minus Sidney Crosby and game-time decision Evgeni Malkin. Pittsburgh continues to be hampered by injuries with key defenseman Zbynek Michalek out four to six weeks with a broken finger. A look at the Pen injured list reminds of what's plagued the Isles over past seasons. Tyler Kennedy is also out with a concussion along with four other Pens joining Michalek and Sid The Kid, who continues to get ready.

It will still be a stiff challenge with Jordan Staal (5-3-8) leading the way along with James Neal (8 goals), Kris Letang (7 assists) and Marc-Andre Fleury (5-2-2, 2.13 GAA, .930 Save Pct). Keep an eye on Matt Cooke, who's stuck to offense instead of thuggery. Plus Matt Niskanen and Chris Kunitz can't be overlooked. In other words, the Pens are more than just their stars. On another team, Staal would be one.

Will the teams stick to hockey or will it have the same edge we had last year? Steve MacIntyre is as tough as they come if Gillies needs a partner. Arron Asham is always game if Matt Martin wants to go. Fasten your seatbelts!

An Islander Revival

Much has been made of the Devils' ridiculous splash back into postseason discussion. Their 15-1-2 record is an amazing turnaround for a team that won only 10 of its first 39. While that story continues to unfold with New Jersey visiting Dallas and former captain Jamie Langenbrunner tonight, another rejuvanted team is flying under the radar.

At one point, the New York Islanders dropped 20 of 21 (1-17-3) leading to Jack Capuano taking over behind the bench. It took a while for him to get his first win but eventually, the new coach got his young team to buy in. Believe it or not, the Islanders off yesterday's latest win- a 5-1 domination of the Panthers at Nassau Coliseum in which Matt Moulson notched a hat trick to surge ahead of rookie Michael Grabner for the club lead in goals with 26- this more confident bunch who won their sixth in seven trail eighth Carolina by 11 points entering tonight's game against Toronto. Another team ahead of them in this wild goose chase that includes the Devils, who are one up on the guys from Long Island. Oh. Did we mention that eighth Carolina hosts the seventh ranked Rangers in an all important battle? A Hurricane regulation win ties them for seventh. So, are the Devils and Islanders actually pulling for their bitter rival to snap out of it for just a night?

While that can be debated in sports bars or on Twitter, both clubs have more business to take care of. For the Islanders, who enter having won eight of 11 and are 18-12-2 since that mid-December swoon that threatened their season, they should be fairly confident when Capuano's healthier club takes on the Maple Leafs with a chance to get within two of another team in the hunt for April.

Can former Ranger '04 No.1 pick Al Montoya continue writing his own personal chapter in his third consecutive start with bright Leafs' rookie James Reimer opposing? The 26 year-old Montoya's story is well chronicled with the Cuban American never getting the chance to even start one game for the team who drafted him over in Manhattan where Henrik Lundqvist blocked his path. It's also conveniently forgotten that Montoya wasn't a total scrub, making Planet USA in his second AHL season for the former Hartford Wolf Pack (now Connecticut Whale). But there never was a spot for him with the Rangers using vet Steve Valiquette and then Alex Auld last year. Montoya was eventually dealt to Phoenix where he in one brief cameo, he showed what he could do pitching a shutout and posting a 3-1-0 record with a 2.08 GAA and .925 save percentage in five games- four of which were starts two years ago. The former University of Michigan standout was blocked yet again by the healthy return of Vezina runner-up Ilya Bryzgalov. Ironically, former Ranger property Jason LaBarbera is the backup. Go figure. So, Montoya was shipped to Long Island for one more opportunity. One he hopes to make the most of.

“People want to knock us down every day, from what I’ve seen since I’ve been here,” the '04 WJC USA hero said after turning aside 20 of 21 in yesterday's win to improve to 3-0-0 with a 1.23 GAA and a .953 save percentage entering tonight. “You want to play that underdog role. You go out there and play hard and show the rest of the league what you can do.”

In an unpredictable year where anything's possible, why not? Who saw the Devils reversing course under Jacques Lemaire playing lights out hockey with no real No.1 caliber D and Johan Hedberg starring over Martin Brodeur minus Zach Parise? In the Islanders, here you have an even better story because it's a younger nucleus coming together and producing three 20-goal scorers with Moulson (26) and surprising Grabner (25) leading the way with John Tavares (23) right behind. Coincidentally, the run has come since Kyle Okposo returned with the former club No.1 pick going 2-7-9 plus-five in 16 games thus far. Speaking of great stories, there's well traveled journeyman P.A. Parenteau finally getting his chance in the bigs and making the most of it with the ex-Ranger third in team scoring with 38 points (14-24-38), already re-signed for next year.

On defense, Travis Hamonic is poised beyond his years playing the kind of solid hockey that has Islander fans excited about the club's future. Already logging important minutes, the 20 year-old from Manitoba has two goals and 15 helpers while resembling the player the team can trust on a revamped blueline that eventually will feature Calvin de haan. Hamonic's play is eerily similar to that of Mark Fayne, who arguably is the best Devil defenseman during their improbable run. Could it really be true that a pair of rookies have been instrumental in each of their teams' turnarounds? Pretty exciting stuff for both Battle clubs.

And while Mike Del Zotto baffles in Year Two on Broadway, the same cannot be said of freshmen tandem Ryan McDonagh and Mike Sauer, who've become John Tortorella's second pair. The theme on all three is they're young and learning the ropes on the fly.

Can the Islanders continue their rise back into the race against a Toronto team that boasts one of the hottest lines in hockey in dangerous trio Nikolai Kulemin-Mikhail Grabovski-Clarke MacArthur? There's also streaky Phil Kessel who's caught fire with his name bandied about a year after coming to be Brian Burke's building block. It shouldn't be easy. But at this point, nothing has fazed Coach Capuano's together team who wants to prove everyone wrong, earning respect. The way they're playing, don't doubt them for a second.

Tavares, Moulson lift Isles over Flames, DP hurt again

The encouraging news is the Islanders continued their impressive play last night, posting a 5-2 win over the Flames at The Saddledome. John Tavares tallied twice and set up another matching a career high three points and Matt Moulson added two goals as the Isles won for the seventh time in nine games (7-1-1). But while Tavares followed up his second three-point effort with No.3 this season, the club again lost Rick DiPietro to an injury.

Leading 4-1 thanks to a nifty Moulson deflection of rookie defenseman Travis Hamonic's right point shot off a Zenon Konopka faceoff win, the battered club saw their franchise goalie bent over in pain after stretching out to make a save during a Calgary power play. The trainer immediately came out and after a few minutes to see if he could stick it out, the ultracompetitive DiPietro finally was helped to the locker room to treat a groin strain.

“I don’t know if a man’s body is supposed to be contorted in those kind of positions,” the former 2000 No.1 overall selection said. ” I felt a twinge and hopefully it’s nothing serious.”

With DP again sidelined, 27 year-old rookie Nathan Lawson fulfilled a childhood dream coming in relief to play the hero in front of the hometown crowd. The undrafted free agent from Alberta had previously debuted against Phoenix on Dec.18 making 32 saves in an overtime defeat. Here he was two weeks later forced into action under anxious circumstances. Not surprisingly, the Flames crept within 4-2 when David Moss converted at the doorstep for his second of the game. Pressing for more late in the second, Moss nearly had the hat trick if not for a clutch leg stop from Lawson, keeping his team comfortably ahead.

“I know what a competitor he is and he came in on a power play, too. Pretty rough go for it there but he accepted the challenge,” pleased coach Jack Capuano pointed out. “I thought he was square to the puck, played the rebounds pretty well, and he battled for us tonight.”

“It feels good to get a win and get a few games under my belt now,” the excited netminder expressed after turning aside 28 of 29 shots after the Flames came at him from every direction. “It’s a dream come true. I just want to keep rolling with it and prove myself now.”

The power play was a big factor early on with the Islanders connecting twice in a three-goal first. Both times, Tavares struck. He opened the contest by beating Jay Bouwmeester in front for a gimme rebound off a P.A. Parenteau shot. After Moulson and Moss traded goals, the emerging sophomore pivot took a Andrew MacDonald cross ice feed at the left circle and wired one upstairs past Calgary backup Henrik Karlsson, restoring order less than two minutes after Moss tallied.

“A good all-around game for us,” Tavares noted after staying hot with 13 points (5-8-13) over his last nine. “Great for Lawson to get in there and do his thing, coming in cold. Everyone did their role and we handled the lead well and the pressure when we needed to.”

Despite outshooting the Islanders 15-3 in the final stanza, Calgary couldn't draw closer thanks to Lawson who brought tears to his family. With Karlsson pulled, rookie Michal Grabner sealed it with an empty netter from Mark Eaton with 66 seconds left. It was his ninth goal. MacDonald and Parenteau each had two assists.

The Islanders (12-19-6, 30 Pts)have today and tomorrow off before visiting Edmonton Thursday night (9 ET) and Colorado Saturday afternoon (3 ET). The five-game Western trip concludes in the Windy City on Sunday.

BONY 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Nathan Lawson, NYI (28 saves in relief for 1st career NHL win)
2nd Star-Matt Moulson, NYI (2 goals-13, 14)
1st Star-John Tavares, NYI (2 PPG-12, 13/ assist)

DiPietro on IR, Mottau's season over

If only something would go right for the Islanders. Injuries continue to haunt the once proud franchise. Having already lost top defender Mark Streit for almost the entire year and still minus top power wing Kyle Okposo since training camp, the club will now skate without No.1 goalie Rick DiPietro. This time, DP will miss time due to swelling in his right knee. Quoting Yogi Berra, "It's deja vu all over again," for the career Islander.

The Islanders also lost veteran blueliner Mike Mottau for the rest of the season due to a torn labrum in his right hip after finally being cleared for physical activity following an eye injury which sidelined him for 10 games. The former Devil underwent successful surgery. In 20 contests, he had three assists while logging important minutes on the Isles' back end. Kind of a shame since as it turned out, he was a lot more important to the Devils than first thought. Credit the one-time Ranger draft pick for turning his career around, carving a niche which makes him serviceable.

As for DiPietro, this is nothing new. He's missed significant time before for the same issue, even being shutdown. In 14 games, DP is 4-6-4 with a 3.68 GAA, .880 save percentage and a shutout. Hard to believe that it was over two years ago that he was an NHL All-Star before hip problems forced him to have season ending surgery. It's been an emotional rollercoaster since for the former No.1 overall pick out of BU 10 years ago. A look at some of the stints spent upstairs tells the sad tale:

12/26/08-missed 27 games due to knee surgery
1/2/09-missed 3 games (groin)
4/12/09-missed last 41 games of season due to swollen right knee
1/4/10-missed 33 games due to knee surgery
4/11/10-missed final 22 games of season (left knee injury)
12/21/10-swollen left knee-IR

He sat out during Monday's home shootout loss to Phoenix. Rookie Nathan Lawson debuted making 32 saves. Despite holding up well, he couldn't prevent Martin Hanzal from tying it late and ultimately was lit up in the skill competition- particularly by Kyle Turris, who did a fancy move kicking the puck off his skate before roofing it over Lawson.

The Islanders host the Lightning tonight. So, it doesn't get any easier for Jack Capuano's club that remains 30th overall with 18 points, trailing only the Devils. They'll face them tomorrow night at The Rock in a game before the Christmas Break. That should be interesting.

Does Lawson get the call again tonight? We don't see why not. May as well see what the kid can do.

Battle Preview: Rangers and Islanders set for home and home

Sean Avery and James Wisniewski meet again in Part I of a classic home-and-home series when the Rangers and Islanders do battle tonight at The Coliseum before returning to MSG tomorrow.

Tonight is Part I of a classic home-and-home between bitter rivals. Whenever the Rangers and Islanders get together, the names on the backs of the jerseys don't matter. Emotions run high, which will certainly be the case over the next 24 hours when the true Battle of New York takes place. It's Manhattan versus Long Island. Broadway meets Old Country Road. City against country. Fast paced takes on laid back.

Whatever you refer to it, it's one of the best rivalries going. The Rangers and Islanders meet for the 230th time in the regular season at Nassau Coliseum. The Blueshirts lead the all-time series 108-97-19-5 (108-102-19). They're 46-60-8-1 off the Meadowbrook, including a 6-4 loss in the only game this season on Oct.11. A typical wild affair that featured 10 goals and five lead changes with the Islanders prevailing by scoring the last three with former Ranger P.A. Parenteau tying it and Ranger killer Blake Comeau finishing off a three-point night. Rick DiPietro was the winner, stopping 29 shots while Henrik Lundqvist permitted five on 31 taking the loss. Figure it to be a rematch in net with DP pitching a shutout over the Devils five days ago to finally snap the Islander 14-game winless streak. Lundqvist meanwhile has been stronger since returning, backstopping the Rangers to road wins over Florida and Nashville before losing to the Pens in a game he was blameless. Scratch that as Lundqvist sits with Martin Biron getting the call instead.


Does John Tavares get it going or is this the night Marian Gaborik busts loose? Will Comeau again burn his favorite target or can Brandon Dubinsky rediscover the touch that had him with 10 goals in his first 13 before fizzling out since Gaborik returned. A day where James Wisniewski and Sean Avery renew acquaintances after the immature gesture during a stoppage that got the Islander blueliner suspended. The best aspect is the teams get to do it again tomorrow at Madison Square Garden. Home ice hasn't meant a lot recently. Even if the Islanders held serve in Game No.1, usually the road team has fared better. Does it start in half an hour?

A new coach is added to the rivalry with Jack Capuano finally winning his first in place of Scott Gordon. Can he outfox John Tortorella? The fun gets started soon and continues tomorrow. Like Chanukkah and Christmas rolled into one. Fire it up cause it's sure to be interesting.

Islanders end winless streak at 14

Islander scorer Jesse Joensuu is congratulated by Radek Martinek. His goal proved to be the difference in a 2-0 shutout of the Devils, helping the Islanders finally end their 14-game winless streak.

 
Finally, the Islanders had something to be thankful for. On the day after Thanksgiving, they defeated the Devils 2-0 before 10,897 at Nassau Coliseum, mercifully ending their winless streak at 14 (1-11-3). Rick DiPietro stopped all 29 shots including 13 in the third period for the club's first win since Oct.21 at Tampa Bay. Making his third consecutive start, DP was strong facing a Devil onslaught in the final 20 to preserve an emotional victory for interim coach Jack Capuano, who finally won his first game in five tries (1-2-2).

The Islanders built a two-goal lead thanks to unlikely scorers Jesse Joensuu and Rob Schremp, who entered with a combined one goal. Joensuu finished off a nice passing play 92 seconds in with Frans Nielsen and Michael Grabner assisting to give the Isles the lead. They outshot a flat Devil team 13-5. The Devil struggles continued. By the time Schremp buried a wrist shot past Johan Hedberg at 5:15 of the second, shots were 18-8 favoring the Long Island hosts. Blake Comeau and James Wisniewski notched helpers. Two players who've slumped during the franchise's second longest streak without a win. They avoided matching a 15-game winless streak (Nov.22-Dec.23, 1999).

New Jersey finally started to come on in the second half getting eight of the last nine shots in the second. However, they still trailed by a deuce headed to the third. John MacLean's team came out with more urgency in the final stanza, swarming the Islanders. They quickly peppered DiPietro with seven shots the first five minutes but couldn't solve the Islander franchise netminder, who was up to the task, sliding over to deny rookie Mattias Tedenby off a nice set up from Jason Arnott and Patrik Elias. He also thwarted Ilya Kovalchuk pointblank with the lost Devil $100 million man firing a rebound wide. Kovalchuk had a rough day taking a minor while having all four of his offerings shutdown by DiPietro. The 27 year-old Russian hasn't lit the lamp in six straight, registering only an assist with a minus-four rating. It's no secret that the Devs need better from their top sniper, who remains stuck on four goals. MacLean tried Adam Mair in place of rook Alexander Vasyunov on the right side. Mystifying.

In a period controlled by the Devils who had plenty of chances to get back in it including a botched five-on-three that probably left Hasan sick from the turkey and stuffing, they didn't come close. Despite a 13-1 SOG edge, it didn't matter. The Islanders did a good job sacrificing their bodies, blocking 27 shots including a half dozen apiece from stalwarts Mark Eaton and Radek Martinek. Sadly, the dozen they combined for were one better than the entire New Jersey roster. If you subtract Anton Volchenkov (3 blocks) and Patrik Elias (4), the rest of the 16 skaters had five, typifying what was missing from a team that came in on its first two-game win streak.

The Islanders were more desperate. Even in only taking two shots on Hedberg the last half of the contest, they won most of the battles. Under Capuano, they have been more competitive earning points against Atlanta and Columbus before finally breaking through to get the monkey off their backs. Maybe loaning Josh Bailey to Bridgeport after the third-year pivot went 13 straight without a point lit a fire to the rest of the club. They did the little things that win, playing more physical with 31 hits compared to the Devs' 14. Only one Islander didn't make the stat sheet. They needed to be on the Devils, especially when back-to-back penalties to Dylan Reese (interference) and Wisniewski (double-minor hi-sticking) gave their opponent a great chance to get back in it.

Instead, the Devils failed miserably, living up to their paltry road power play record of just one goal. Believe it or not, they rank pretty high at home. The five-on-three was discombobulated with the trigger man Jason Arnott instead of Kovalchuk. Twice, he missed wide with one even caroming out. Kovalchuk played the right side and was hardly a factor, getting one low one-timer through which DiPietro snuffed out. The Islander PK outworked the Devs, hustling to loose pucks and clearing them out when their foes didn't do it themselves with questionable decision making. Pumped up by their team's desperation, the crowd gave them a loud cheer when the second of Wisniewski's penalty was over.

It seemed to take the wind out of New Jersey's sails. They hardly tested DP the final six and a half, partially due to the Islanders' grit. As time wound down, it was finally over with an emotional DiPietro jumping up and down like a kid into the arms of happy teammate Zenon Konopka. He told Deb Kaufman how much the streak had weighed on them and pointedly thanked the fans twice for continuing to support them. A great day to be an Islander. Not so good if you were a Devil.

BONY 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Rob Schremp, NYI (2nd goal of season, +1 in 20 shifts-13:57)
2nd Star-Mark Eaton/Radek Martinek, NYI (
1st Star-Rick DiPietro, NYI (29 saves incl. 13/13 in 3rd for 1st SHO of season-1st since Jan. also vs NJD)

Byfuglien makes it unlucky 13 for Islanders

They played better but it still wasn't enough. Dustin Byfuglien's big blast at 1:30 of overtime proved the difference in the Thrashers' 2-1 win, extending the Islander losing streak to an unlucky 13. At least they earned a point. Only the second time during their worst stretch of hockey since a 14-game winless slide 20 years ago (2/13-3/15, 1990).

“We had several chances to win,” club leader Matt Moulson said after calling out some teammates during Saturday's 4-1 home loss. “We have to score goals. … You can’t take comfort in getting just one point.”

The team's offensive woes have seen them score just 12 times over the last 11 games. On a night Rick DiPietro returned to the net for the first time in 18 days and was surprisingly sharp, only Michael Grabner lit the lamp late in the second, deflecting home a Frans Nielsen shot for a 1-0 lead with a period left. But they couldn't hold it with one-time Ranger Nik Antropov blasting one past DiPietro on the power play 2:25 into the third.

DiPietro, who finished with 33 saves for his most in two years, came up large with under seven minutes left in regulation when he stoned Jim Slater on a breakaway, flexing his right pad to keep it tied. Unfortunately, a breakdown during OT allowed Byfuglien to get loose in the slot and bury the winner. On the play, John Tavares fell down at the blueline which gave Big Buff plenty of room to use his wheels to skate in and step into a perfect laser high blocker that sent Atlanta fans home happy.

“I’m not sure what happened,” DiPietro said. “He made a nice shot. ... It’s unacceptable for us. We need to win games. There are no excuses. … It’s frustrating, because we know what we’re capable of doing.”

“He [DiPietro] was our best player,” praised interim coach Jack Capuano who slipped to 0-3 since relieving Scott Gordon. “He was outstanding. He was what I thought he was going to be.”

The Islanders have been outscored a preposterous 48-18 during the futile stretch which interrupted a 4-1-2 start. Under Capuano, the offensive woes have continued with the team only able to muster four goals while giving up 10. At some point, it has to stop. Their effort was much better yesterday. Unfortunately, they ran into a hot goalie in Ondrej Pavelec who's allowed just three in three straight starts. His best save was a highlight reel one on P.A. Parenteau with under five minutes to go in the third. The Isles were on a power play and a Mark Eaton shot rebounded right to Parenteau, who quickly fired for what looked like a sure goal only to see a sprawling Pavelec somehow reach with his glove to snatch it away. The former Ranger could only look skyward in disbelief. The Atlanta goalie made 28 saves in posting a second consecutive win.

DP expressed even more to MSG's Rob Carlin via Twitter on how difficult it's been on the team:

“This eats at us. This is keeping guys up at night and making us sick to our stomachs."

The Islanders also lost vet defenseman Mike Mottau to an eye injury. The ex-Devil was struck by a puck in the right eye and taken off on a stretcher to an Atlanta hospital where he remained before returning home this afternoon. Hopefully, he'll be alright.

"First off, you pray that (Mottau) is alright and that it's nothing career-threatening or anything like that," concerned teammate Mark Eaton told Newsday. "Hopefully we'll get some idea pretty soon that he's alright."

If he does miss time as expected, he'd become the fifth Islander regular on the blueline to sit out joining top D Mark Streit, Milan Jurcina, Jack Hillen and Andrew MacDonald. It's hard to compete when you are injury-plagued. This happened last year too. Makes ya wonder if there's a curse.

In the mean time, the Islanders get two days off before hosting the improved Blue Jackets on Thanksgiving Eve followed by the equally struggling Devils on Black Friday for an early 1 PM start. Hopefully, they'll finally score enough to get the monkey off their back.