Islanders score first, then get trounced by Devils
Photo credit: AP | New Jersey Devils' Jamie Langenbrunner, right, attempts to get his stick on the puck as New York Islanders goaltender Martin Biron looks on during the second period. (November 28, 2009)
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Nov. 28: Devils 6, Islanders 1
NEWARK - The day after an inspiring win over the reigning Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins, the Islanders gave up six straight goals - including four in the third period - in a 6-1 blowout loss to the Devils at Prudential Center Saturday.
With the chance to build on Friday's win and take down another hot team in the Eastern Conference, the Islanders took a 1-0 lead on Richard Park's first-period goal - and then suffered a serious letdown.
Brian Rolston and Patrik Elias scored two goals each as the Devils took over the game.
"We just didn't have it," coach Scott Gordon said. "Simple as that."
Despite a lackluster second period, the Islanders found themselves trailing by only a goal starting the third. But that changed quickly.
The Islanders committed two holding penalties within 11 seconds - Jack Hillen at 9:19 and Park at 9:30 - to give the Devils a two-man advantage. The Islanders then gave up three goals in a span of 2:02.
After a minute of five-on-three time, Elias picked the top left corner at 10:30 for a power-play goal that gave the Devils a 3-1 lead.
Before the Islanders had the chance to regain any footing after the power play expired, Zach Parise hacked away at a loose puck in the crease for his 15th goal at 11:54. Rolston scored his second goal of the game at 12:32 and extended the Devils' lead to 5-1. Elias closed out the scoring with 45 seconds remaining.
"Discipline is everything," said goaltender Martin Biron, who faced 42 shots. "I think today that was the difference. You know New Jersey is going to be a disciplined hockey team, waiting and clogging it up. You have to match their discipline level and we didn't."
The Islanders played well in the first period and took the lead on Park's long slap shot at 11:18, but they faded quickly.
They failed to establish their forecheck, gave up too many odd-man rushes, couldn't generate anything in the offensive zone (only four shots on goal in the third period) and took penalties.
"It's a chess match - whoever makes the mistake first, they're going to try and capitalize on that," Nate Thompson said. "We made way too many mistakes and they made us pay."
The Devils tied the score 54 seconds into the second period when Mike Mottau swung behind the net and saw his wraparound attempt intended for Jamie Langenbrunner find its way into the goal after apparently bouncing off Sean Bergenheim and Mark Streit. It was Mottau's first point of the season.
Just after Hillen went to the box for crosschecking, the Devils scored the first of their two power-play goals. Langenbrunner fired a pass down low to Elias, who dished to find Rolston below the hash marks, and he put it away at 12:06.
The Devils' Matt Halischuk had a goal on a tip-in waved off after a video review near the end of the second, but New Jersey continued its assault with four goals in the third.
"It's a little frustrating,'' Hillen said. "It would've been nice to get the win, get the two points, but more than that, it would be nicer to carry on some momentum from the other day. We have to turn things around."
