Defenseman Brendan Witt got his first career
two-goal game and Dwayne Roloson made 22 saves, as the New York Islanders took
a 3-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers.
Witt, in his 14th NHL campaign, had never before scored more than three goals
in a single season. His pair of scores gave him 25 for his career, and his
last goal came in a January 22, 2008 contest against Carolina.
John Tavares also scored for the Islanders, who have won four in a row after
taking just one victory over their first 10 games.
Ethan Moreau had the lone goal for Edmonton, which has lost five of six.
Nikolai Khabibulin allowed all three goals on 37 shots in the setback.
Moreau gave the Oilers the lead at the 11:02 mark of the first period with a
wraparound score.
Nearly four minutes later, Matt Moulson scooped up the loose puck behind the
Edmonton net and emerged on the right side, dishing a pass to the slot for
Tavares, who buried a one-timer with 5:09 remaining.
New York then got a pair of goals from Witt in the second period to take the
lead. His first, a wrister from the left boards, put the Isles on top 2:32
into the frame.
Just over 10 minutes later, he took a shot from the blue line, and the puck
found its way through traffic across the goal line to make it a 3-1 game.
Roloson made eight saves in the second period and six in the third to make the
lead stick.
Game Notes
Doug Weight had two assists...New York plays at Buffalo Wednesday...Edmonton
hosts the Rangers on Thursday...The Oilers have lost five in a row at Nassau
Coliseum.
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