On the Islanders Beat

For the second straight game, the Islanders got off to a slow start against the Devils because they failed to exert pressure on the forecheck. At 3:32, the Devils jumped out front on a goal by defenseman Johnny Oduya, whose left point shot beat islanders goaltender to the far post on the glove side. At that point, the Devils had a 3-1 edge in shots on goal.

But the rest of the period belonged to the Islanders, who got goals from Andy Hilbert and Kurtis McLean and finished with a 7-4 advantage in shots. An improved forecheck produced the tying goal when Tim Jackman won a race to the puck behind the Devils’ net and passed along the back wall to Hilbert, who came out for the wraparound at the right post to beat Kevin Weekes at 15:31.

A few shifts later, McLean unleashed a slapshot from above the left circle that hit the stick of a Devils defender, changing directions and handcuffing Weekes to give the Isles a 2-1 lead at 18:26. It made a difference that Martin Brodeur was not in goal for the Devils, but they pretty much played the rest of their regular lineup.

The two teams also split two first-period fights. The Devils’ David Clarkson landed a punch that dropped Islanders defenseman Brendan Witt to the ice, but Isles enforcer Mitch Fritz, who has a knack for being able to switch punching hands mid-fight, got his left hand free to land several shots against Sheldon Brookbank.