The Devils increased their lead to 2-0 when Patrik Elias came down the left-wing side into the circle and drilled a rising wrist shot to the far side over the glove of Islanders goaltender Joey MacDonald at the 5:21 mark. After managing only four shots on goal in the first period, the Islanders generated more quality chances in the second but still trailed the Devils in shots, 18-10 for the game.
Center Mike Comrie, playing with rookie Kyle Okposo on his right wing, was the most effective combination for the Isles. Comrie couldn’t quite finish a wraparound early in the second period, and Okposo came down the slot to force Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur to stop his backhand before a rebound shot went wide. Frans Nielsen and Jeff Tambellini had an effective power-play shift that led to a couple of chances, but they couldn’t get anything past Brodeur.
Shortly after one Islanders power play ended, coach Scott Gordon sent out a line with enforcers Brandon Sugden and Mitch Fritz flanking Jeremy Colliton. They couldn’t get out of their own end for more than a minute, and Sugden had a giveaway on a weak clearing attempt. MacDonald misplayed another puck behind his net, losing it to Travis Zajac, but escaped with no damage.