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The Skinny: Rangers 5, Isles 2

"The Skinny" By Eric Hornick Game 68 Rangers 5, Isles 2 Johnny Brodzinski broke a 2-2 tie with 4:59 left in the middle period and ...

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Stat Trick: Isles 4, Devils 0

Happy Anniversary! Exactly one year to the day of their last shutout, the Isles blanked the Devils on Saturday. On to the trick...

1. Yann Danis records the 2nd shutout of his career, and his first since blanking Atlanta in his NHL debut. It's the first shutout for the Isles since 2/21/08, and their first by anyone other than Rick DiPietro since Garth Snow blanked Atlanta on December 13, 2003. The Isles were the only team in the NHL not to have a shutout prior to tonight. Danis also recorded a career-high 40 saves, including one on Zach Parise in the final minute to preserve the shutout.

2. Jon Sim recorded a goal for the second straight game, and now has eight goals on the season.

3. Mark Streit and Frans Nielsen each recorded a pair of assists.

and a few more...

4. Sean Bergenheim, Kyle Okposo and Bill Guerin also scored for the Isles -- the latter two on the power play.

5. The win ends the Isles' 5-game losing streak (dating back to last season) against New Jersey.

6. With Richard Park out injured, the Devils dominated the draws: 33-17. Newcomer Dean McAmmond won 7 of 12; the other Isles lost 28 of 38. Park btw was missing his 2nd consecutive game, after playing all 221 games since joining the Isles.

7. Andy Hilbert was +2 and have four shots, but lost 11 of 12 faceoffs.

8. Travis Zajac had 6 shots and won 12 of 13 faceoffs, but he was -1.

9. Sean Bergenheim had six shots on goal, and had five other blocked by the Devils.

10 Up next: the Isles travel to Pittsburgh on Wednesday. The Penguins lead the season series 3-games-to-1 (7 points to 3). The Isles have lost 6 of their last 7 in Pittsburgh and are an inconceivable 1-18-1 in their last 20 road games. They are 0-5-0 on the road this month; they haven't had a pointless month on the road since January 1996 (0-4-0).

Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick, statistician on Islander home telecasts since 1982.

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