Guerin nets 400th
Islanders end 10-game skid
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Rick DiPietro returned to the goal just over two months after meniscus surgery. Bill Guerin scored twice to reach 400 NHL goals. But the most unusual aspect for the New York Islanders? They won.
DiPietro stopped 28 shots, and Kyle Okposo and Freddy Meyer added goals to give the Islanders their first win in 11 games, a 4-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs last night in Uniondale, N.Y.
"It's been a while," Islanders defenseman Chris Campoli said.
Guerin became the 79th NHL player, and the eighth US-born player, to score 400 goals. He also is the third player to accomplish the feat in an Islanders uniform.
"It means a lot," Guerin said. "It means I've been able to stick around this league for quite some time, and had some success at doing it. [Tonight's] goals came at a good time. Everyone kept a good attitude and a good work ethic [during the losing streak]."
Maple Leafs coach Ron Wilson praised Guerin. "That's a tremendous milestone," Wilson said. "I know Billy, and he's a great guy and very deserving."
New York was 0-9-1 since its last victory Nov. 29. Lee Stempniak scored for Toronto, and Vesa Toskala stopped 27 shots. The Maple Leafs have lost two straight after winning five of six.
DiPietro stopped the first two shots he saw, then threw a pass up the right wall for Okposo, who skated into the Toronto zone and fired a shot that hit Toskala and deflected in at 3:47.
"Anyone that knows me knows that patience isn't one of my virtues," said DiPietro, who notched his 14th career point. "It makes you realize how much you miss the game."
Penguins 1, Devils 0 - Marc-Andre Fleury made 37 saves for Pittsburgh's first shutout of the season, and Ruslan Fedotenko scored midway through the second period against host New Jersey.
Fleury, making his fifth straight start after missing 12 games because of an undisclosed injury, had his 12th career shutout. In the third period, he stopped Jay Pandolfo's shorthanded bid and made a dazzling save against Jamie Langenbrunner.
Capitals 3, Sabres 2 - Alex Ovechkin, Viktor Kozlov, and Boyd Gordon scored goals, and Jose Theodore made 22 saves in host Washington's victory.
Ovechkin pushed the puck through Henrik Tallinder's legs just inside the blue line and fired a shot past goalie Patrick Lalime while falling, giving the Capitals a 3-1 lead.
Hurricanes 5, Thrashers 4 - Eric Staal scored three goals in a 4:31 span of the third period to overshadow Bryan Little's first career hat trick in Carolina's victory in Atlanta.
Blackhawks 5, Flyers 1 - Patrick Sharp scored his team-leading 19th goal of the season and host Chicago won its eighth straight to match the franchise record.
Lightning 4, Panthers 3 - Ryan Malone beat backup goalie Craig Anderson with a wrist shot to give Tampa Bay a shootout victory over Florida in Sunrise, Fla.
Predators 3, Red Wings 2 - Defenseman Kevin Klein scored a power-play goal, Vern Fiddler added a goal late in the second period, and host Nashville held off Detroit.
Oilers 3, Canucks 2 - Shawn Horcoff and Sheldon Souray scored on 5-on-3 power plays, and Dwayne Roloson made 26 saves in Edmonton's victory in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Coyotes 2, Kings 1 - Peter Mueller ended a 21-game goal drought, and Shane Doan scored on a power play, leading Phoenix over host Los Angeles.
