The Islanders successfully killed three Devils power plays but allowed the Devils to score on the Islanders’ only man advantage. Isles goaltender Joey MacDonald came out of the net to play the puck between the bottom of the right faceoff circle and the goal line, got tangled up with a teammate and wound up losing it in front. Zach Parise scored what amounted to an empty-netter for a 1-0 Devils lead at 14:24.
Far more interesting to the sparse Nassau Coliseum crowd were three first-period fights that allowed Isles enforcers Brandon Sugden, Tim Jackman and Mitch Fritz to display their talents. Sugden was the first to go with the Devils’ Bryce Salvador, landing a couple of early uppercuts before gaining control and landing a series of overhand rights, including several rabbit punches to the back of the head that forced the refs to step in. A decisive win for Sugden.
After Parise’s goal, Tim Jackman and the Devils’ Sheldon Brookbank tussled. Brookbank pulled Jackman down, but it was an even exchange. Just eight seconds later, Fritz and Michael Rupp dropped the gloves. Unable to get off with his right hand, Fritz managed to free the left and rip several shots to Rupp’s face before pushing him down to the ice.
So, the Isles had a 2-1 edge in fights but trailed 1-0 on the scoreboard.