Recap: NY Islanders vs. Ottawa
Sports Network | November 15, 2008
Uniondale, NY (Sports Network) - Jon Sim recorded a goal and an assist, and the New York Islanders fended off Ottawa, 3-2, to complete a home-and-home sweep of the Senators.
Joey MacDonald continued to fill in admirably for the injured Rick DiPietro, as he stopped 38-of-40 shots for the Islanders, who had lost three straight before taking two in a row from Ottawa.
Sean Bergenheim and Chris Campoli each scored for the victors.
Dany Heatley had a goal and an assist and Jason Spezza also lit the lamp for Ottawa, which has lost four consecutive contests. Alex Auld allowed three goals on 31 shots in defeat.
A passing clinic from Ottawa with an extra man resulted in Heatley's 10th goal of the season with 6:31 to play to make it a 3-1 game in favor of New York.
The Senators got within a goal when the puck deflected off several Islanders in front of the net and caromed directly to Spezza for the stuff with 1:33 remaining in the game.
The Islanders, though, were able to keep the puck out of their zone and come away with the win.
After a scoreless first period that saw MacDonald turn away 15 shots, New York managed to net a pair of gritty goals in the following stanza.
Doug Weight tipped Andy Sutton's shot from the right boards early in the frame. Auld got a piece of the deflection, but let the rebound slide to Bergenheim, who stuffed in the game's first goal at the 3:54 mark.
Midway through the period, Frans Nielsen skated into the middle nearly uncontested on a power play and fired a shot on net. Again Auld failed to control the rebound and Sim was credited with the putback before falling into the net himself.
Campoli's third goal of the season -- a wrister from the point over Auld's left shoulder -- at the 3:59 mark of the third period added a critical insurance goal for the hosts.
The Senators had won five of their previous six at Nassau Coliseum...MacDonald has won all three career starts versus Ottawa...Mike Comrie (hip) did not play for New York...New York was 1-for-6 on the power play, while Ottawa went 1- for-5 with the man advantage.
