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Okposo tallies twice as Islanders down Thrashers

Feb 2, 2011 - 3:11 AM Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Kyle Okposo scored his first two goals of the season and added an assist, as the New York Islanders returned from the All- Star break and earned a 4-1 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers at Philips Arena.

P.A. Parenteau registered a goal and an assist, while Travis Hamonic tallied his first career NHL goal for the Islanders, who snapped a three-game slide and won for only the third time in their last 11 overall.

Kevin Poulin turned aside 25-of-26 shots to pick up the win.

Freddy Meyer accounted for the lone goal for Atlanta, which has dropped eight of its last 10 contests. Ondrej Pavelec, playing in his 100th NHL contest, made 29 saves in defeat.

"We spent too much time in our zone tonight," Pavelec said. "They came in and played a hard game and won the battles and the game. We have to find a way to win these games and protect our building."

Atlanta opened the scoring with 5:29 left in the first on a fluke goal. Poulin stopped Meyer's shot from a severe angle, but the puck went off the stick of Hamonic, who stood behind the net, and deflected off Poulin's pad before going in.

Hamonic then pulled the Islanders even at 5:23 of the second, when his shot from the point hit a Thrasher in front and got by Pavelec.

The Islanders took control late in the stanza by striking for a pair of goals one minute apart.

First, Okposo put home a rebound from the low slot with 3:21 remaining after some sustained pressure on the Thrashers' net.

Then, with the Islanders skating on the power play, Parenteau's wrister from the left circle beat Pavelec on the stick side with 2:21 to go, and New York took the 3-1 lead into the intermission.

"I think we just settled down and found our legs, and we really wanted to take it to them," Okposo said. "We're trying to come in here with a new attitude after the break and thought we played pretty well."

Okposo finished a 2-on-1 with Michael Grabner at 11:19 of the third to give the Islanders a three-goal cushion, and they played a solid defensive game from there.

Game Notes

Atlanta forward Evander Kane returned to the lineup after missing the last four games with a lower-body injury...The Islanders improved to 8-15-3 on the road this season, while Atlanta fell to 12-10-5 as the host.