Islanders Fighting for Playoff Spot

Islanders Fighting for Playoff Spot

Published: 3/15/06, 7:06 AM EDT
(AP) - Seemingly out of the Eastern Conference playoff race a couple of weeks ago, the New York Islanders are still fighting for a postseason spot. And they're looking far more like contenders than the rival New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils.

On Tuesday night, Rick DiPietro made 16 saves to help the Islanders extend their winning streak to four games with a 6-1 road victory over the Devils, while the Rangers dropped their sixth straight - falling 5-3 to NHL-leading Carolina.

DiPietro won his seventh straight start and has allowed one goal or less in his last four games. He lost his shutout bid on Paul Martin's fluke goal, a flip shot at 10:59 of the third that caromed off the side glass.

With the victory, the Islanders remained tied with Toronto for 10th place in the conference - five points behind No. 8 Montreal for the final playoff spot.

"I thought we had a good shot all along," DiPietro said. "As far back as we were, we realized we weren't playing our best hockey. Guys have been waiting patiently to turn things around. It's starting to happen now and it's an exciting time for us."

In other games, it was: Ottawa 4, Tampa Bay 3; Buffalo 6, Washington 4; Toronto 5, Boston 4 in a shootout; Nashville 5, Vancouver 0; Phoenix 6, Los Angeles 2; and Edmonton 2, Minnesota 1

While the Islanders have rebounded to make a run at a playoff spot, the Rangers have slumped following a seven-game winning streak, leaving them two points ahead of second-place Philadelphia in the Atlantic Division.

In the Rangers' loss, Doug Weight scored two goals and had an assist to help Carolina set franchise records for victories (44), home wins (27) and points (94).

Matt Cullen, Mike Commodore and Cory Stillman also scored, and Martin Gerber made 41 saves for Carolina. Michael Nylander scored twice and Petr Sykora added a goal for the Rangers, who will open a four-game homestand Thursday night against Washington.

"It's not a good situation that we are in," New York star Jaromir Jagr said. "Everybody knows how important these next four games are. It might be our season."

New Jersey is sixth in the standings, two points ahead of Tampa Bay and three in front of Montreal. The Devils have lost two straight, with coach Lou Lamoriello benching star goalie Martin Brodeur in both games.

"I played 25 minutes and 35 minutes in two games," Brodeur said. "I shouldn't be tired. I'm tired of getting scored on."

Alexei Yashin scored two goals for the Islanders, Sean Bergenheim had a goal and two assists, and Jeff Tambellini, Shawn Bates and John Erskine also scored.

The Islanders won the season series 6-1-1.

"Marty will come right back," said Lamoriello, also the Devils' CEO, president and general manager. "We just haven't been playing the way we had been playing as a team."

Senators 4, Lightning 3

At Ottawa, Daniel Alfredsson scored with 7 seconds left to give the Senators their eighth win in nine games.

Dany Heatley had a goal and two assists, including his team-leading 38th goal on a 5-on-3 advantage 4:19 into the third to tie it at 3. Jason Spezza had three assists and Chris Neil added a goal for Ottawa.

Vincent Lecavalier scored his 29th and 30th goals and Dimitry Afanasenkov also scored for Tampa Bay, which has lost six of eight.

Sabres 6, Capitals 4

At Washington, Ales Kotalik scored with 1:43 to play to help Buffalo run its winning streak to seven games.

Daniel Briere had two goals and two assists, and Derek Roy, Maxim Afinogenov and Tim Connolly also scored.

Alex Ovechkin scored his 43rd goal and had two assists for Washington, giving him 82 points. He's the first rookie with 80 or more since Mikael Renberg had 82 for Philadelphia in 1993-94. Ben Clymer had two goals, and Jeff Halpern also scored.

Maple Leafs 5, Bruins 4, SO

At Toronto, Darcy Tucker scored the only goal in a shootout to lead the Maple Leafs.

Mats Sundin scored twice and had an assist, Bryan McCabe scored and had an assist, and Jason Allison added a goal for the Maple Leafs.

Marco Sturm scored twice, and Marty Reasoner and Glen Murray added goals for Boston, which has lost six straight.

Predators 5, Canucks 0

At Nashville, Tenn., Tomas Vokoun made 31 saves for his third shutout of the season and Dan Hamhuis and Scott Hartnell each had a goal and an assist for the Predators.

Nashville has earned at least one point in six straight, including three victories over Vancouver. The Canucks have lost five consecutive games.

Jordin Tootoo, Scottie Upshall, and Jerred Smithson also scored, and Steve Sullivan had three assists.

Coyotes 6, Kings 2

At Los Angeles, Geoff Sanderson had a goal and two assists to help Phoenix snap a 13-game road winless streak against the Kings.

Curtis Joseph made 27 saves and Mike Ricci, Dave Scatchard, Shane Doan, Oleg Saprykin and Boyd Devereaux added goals.

Jeff Cowan and Luc Robitaille scored for Los Angeles.

Oilers 2, Wild 1

At St. Paul, Minn., Dwayne Roloson made 30 saves to beat his former Minnesota teammates for his first victory with Edmonton.

The Wild traded Roloson to Edmonton last week for a first-round draft pick this summer and future considerations.

Chris Pronger and Ryan Smyth scored for Edmonton, and Kurtis Foster had the lone goal for Minnesota.
credit BellSOuth