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Zach Parise of the New Jersey Devils celebrates after assisting on a goal by teammate Sergei Brylin during the first period of the Devils' 3-2 win over the New York Islanders on Saturday.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The New Jersey Devils have yet to lose in 2006.
Zach Parise scored in the fifth round of the shootout to give the Devils a 3-2 victory Saturday over the New York Islanders, extending their winning streak to nine. New Jersey last lost on New Year’s Eve.
“It’s so much fun in the locker room,” Parise said. “Guys enjoy coming to the rink and we’re showing it on the ice. Everything is coming together for us.”
Miroslav Satan, the first Islander up, beat Martin Brodeur over the right shoulder for New York’s only goal in the shootout.
“I had a number of things in mind, depending on how he reacted,” Satan said. “He covers the net really well. I was able to find a space.”
Patrik Elias, New Jersey’s second shooter, swung wide right before cutting to the crease to beat Rick DiPietro to create the 1-1 deadlock heading into the sudden-death portion.
The fifth shooters were pivotal as the Islanders Trent Hunter hit the post before Parise got the winner on a forehand-backhand-forehand deke that sent DiPietro sprawling.
“I had the move picked out,” Parise said. “I just tried to take my time.”
In regulation, Sergei Brylin and Elias each scored for the Devils, who moved closer to the franchise record of 13 straight wins set from Feb. 26-March 23, 2001.
“The players are not looking at the streak as something totally exceptional,” said CEO, general manager and coach Lou Lamoriello. “They are more focused on doing the things that give us the chance to do what has to be done.”
Brodeur made 37 saves through regulation and overtime.
The Islanders staged a spirited comeback on third-period goals by Satan and Mark Parrish to wipe out a 2-0 Devils lead.
Satan drove the right wing to beat Brodeur at 10:32.
Parrish pulled the Islanders even with a 5-on-3 powerplay goal at 13:38. With New Jersey defensemen Brian Rafalski and Colin White in the penalty box, Alexei Yashin drilled a hard pass across the crease that Parrish tipped past Brodeur.
That set the stage for the overtime where DiPietro made several stellar saves including two on Elias.
“I think it is encouraging that we are working harder,” DiPietro said. “Our work ethic has improved and, if that continues, we will start making strides.”
Brylin, set up nicely by Parise, scored the only goal of the opening period at 15:24. Parise sent a backhand pass across the slot to Brylin, who directed the puck inside the left post.
The Islanders dominated the second period, outshooting the Devils 16-6. Brodeur was sharp in the middle period. He made solid saves on Jason Blake, Parrish and Hunter and caught major breaks when Blake and Satan both hit the post.
In the third, the Devils went ahead 2-0 as Elias scored on the power play at 6:11. Elias, who has four goals in eight games since recovering from hepatitis, deflected Brian Rafalski’s point shot past DiPietro.
Notes: The Devils improved to 11-5 since Lamoriello took over as coach...The Islanders fell to 2-3 under interim coach Brad Shaw...It marked the second straight game in which the Islander loss extended the opponent’s winning streak to nine. The Carolina Hurricanes reached that mark Thursday with a 4-3 victory over New York.
