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Cullen's shootout goal lifts Rangers over Islanders

Mar 6, 2007 - 7:08 AM NEW YORK (Ticker) -- Matt Cullen and the New York Rangers finally got a puck past Rick DiPietro.

Cullen scored the lone goal of the shootout to lift the Rangers a 2-1 victory over the New York Islanders.

The Rangers started the night in 12th place in the crowded Eastern Conference but jumped up to a tie for 10th with the triumph. They have 71 points, two out of the final playoff spot.

Cullen scored the winner when he skated in and beat goaltender Rick DiPietro with a snap shot over the blocker, the center's second goal in six chances in the bonus format this season.

"I was trying to see what was available," Cullen said. "It's tough, he (DiPietro) uses the opposite hand (blocker hand). You don't face a lot of goalies that are the opposite hand, so I just tried to go in and see what was available.

"It feels good to help. I haven't been very successful in the shootouts this year, and it was nice that coach put me out there, and I was happy to put it in."

Up until that point DiPietro had been unbelievable, stopping 56 shots.

"I think when I looked up at the scoreboard and saw 48-24 on the shots, it was pretty clear he was having a good night," Cullen said. "DiPietro played a big game for them. Credit to us because we stayed on him and kept putting pucks on him, but he certainly was pretty good tonight."

The save total was career-high for DiPietro, who is 5-0-2 in his last seven starts.

"I don't pay attention to it (the high number of shots)," DiPietro said. "You just try to keep your focus on making the next save. It was an important point for us. We need points every game."

Jason Blake's power-play goal gave the Islanders a 1-0 lead with 1:43 left in the first period. The left wing's 33rd goal came when his shot from a sharp angle deflected off Rangers' defenseman Paul Mara past goaltender Henrik Lundqvist.

Lundqvist made 29 saves and is 6-2-2 in his last 10 outings.

"It was not hard for me to stay focused," Lundqvist said. "I knew they would get a couple of chances here and there. They did, so I just had to stay sharp. I was frustrated after the first period, they got a lucky bounce there on Blake's goal. We kept working, and we knew we would tie the game sooner or later."

Rangers center Petr Prucha forged a 1-1 tie when he banged Jed Ortmeyer's rebound from the left corner of the crease past DiPietro 26 seconds into the third period.

"He (Ortmeyer) made a quick shot, it hit me in a weird spot on my pad," DiPietro said. "The rebound went right to Prucha."

The Islanders, who lead the season series, 4-0-1, host the Rangers on Thursday.