Canucks beat Islanders in shootout

The Islanders may have been left off the list, but the team delivered an All-Star effort in hanging with the league-leading Canucks at Nassau Coliseum last night.

After erasing a Vancouver lead twice and taking a one-goal edge on Blake Comeau's slap shot from the blue line with 5:36 remaining, the Islanders seemed poised to upset the league-leading Canucks.

But Vancouver delivered a quick answer to Comeau's go-ahead goal - Kevin Bieksa tied the score 34 seconds after Comeau tallied on the power play - and the Canucks prevailed in a shootout for a 4-3 win.

With the shootout tied 1-1 in the third round, Ryan Kesler beat Kevin Poulin over left pad to give the Canucks the win. Mayson Raymond also scored in the shootout for Vancouver. Rob Schremp opened the shootout with a goal for the Islanders.

The game started just hours after the league's annual All-Star roster was announced. In stark contrast to the Canucks' three representatives - Ryan Kesler and Daniel and Henrik Sedin, the Islanders were one of four teams without a player named to this month's game, although Michael Grabner is among the 12 rookies who will compete in the skills competition.

Earlier in the third, John Tavares' one-timed a nice feed from Schremp to score his team-leading 15th goal to tie the score at 2 at 3:14 in the third.

Early in the game the Islanders allowed too much pressure against Poulin, giving up 20 shots in the first while registering only nine of their own. It was the third period in two games the Islanders have given up 16 shots or more.

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Less than five minutes into play, the Sedin twins picked up assists when Alex Burrows scored in front at 4:58 to give the Canucks a 1-0 lead.

Trailing 1-0 after the first, the Islanders played with more jump in the second but still left the period down a goal.

Sparked by a thrilling fight between Matt Martin and Tanner Glass, the Islanders tied the game one second after their first power play of the game expired when defenseman Jack Hillen unleashed a bomb from the left point at 15:13.

With 15.4 seconds remaining in the period, however, Kesler tallied from the high slot to beat Poulin for the go-ahead goal heading into the third period.

Poulin, who was called up on the Islanders recent five-city, 11-day road trip to replace injured goaltender Rick DiPietro, had 48 saves as the Canucks unleashed 51 shots.

Although DiPietro, who suffered a groin strain last Monday against Calgary, faced shots from goaltending consultant Sudarshan Maharaj before yesterday's morning skate, he has yet to practice with the team since flying back to New York Friday for rest and further evaluation.

Poulin and fellow Bridgeport call-up Nathan Lawson will split goaltending duties for now, but DiPietro is expected to return before the end of the week. The Islanders have a home game tomorrow night against the Senators and Saturday against the Sabres.