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Satan makes Arbour's milestone game a success

Nov 4, 2007 - 3:00 AM UNIONDALE, New York (Ticker) -- After thanking the New York Islanders for the opportunity, Al Arbour can thank Miroslav Satan for the victory.

Satan scored two goals in the third period to make Arbour's milestone game a successful one as the Islanders edged the Pittsburgh Penguins, 3-2, on Saturday.

"Just by him being here tonight, it won the game for us," said Islanders coach Ted Nolan, who stood next to Arbour on the bench. "The players all certainly knew who he was. Just his presence means so much. To have a living legend beside you at practice and in the locker room means so much."

Arbour, who led New York to four consecutive Stanley Cup championships from 1980-83, signed a one-game contract Friday in order to reach the 1,500-game mark with the team. The Islanders fell into a 2-0 hole before climbing back into the contest on Trent Hunter's tally at 8:20 of the second period.

"When you have guys talk about his accomplishments, I know for me, it was such a great honor to play for such a great coach," said Hunter, who capitalized on a bad bounce to get New York on the scoreboard.

In his own zone, Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby attempted to bank the puck off the end boards and around the net. But it took a strange bounce and went right to Hunter, who fired it past goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury from the slot for his third of the season.

With just 20 minutes left in his historic game, Arbour - who celebrated his 75th birthday on Thursday - watched Satan take control.

After Josef Vasicek came down the right wing on a partial breakaway, he pulled up in the faceoff circle and fed a streaking Satan, who beat Fleury to the short side with a shot from the slot at 5:30 to knot the game at 2-2.

With time winding down in the third, Fleury made a save on defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron. He was unable to control the rebound, however, and Satan buried it from the right side with 2:41 remaining to give the Islanders a 3-2 edge.

"I tried to deflect Bergeron's shot to the corner, but their guy (Satan) was right there and the puck was right on his stick," Fleury said. "The Islanders work hard, but tonight, they got the lucky bounces and breaks."

"Fleury made the initial save and it went on Satan's stick," Penguins coach Michel Therrien said. "Marc did not have a chance to react."

Satan was honored to have been able to help provide Arbour with the victory.

"We had only one chance to play for a legend," Satan said. "It is something we will remember for the rest of our careers. He was reinforcing what our coaching staff said. It was special coming from him."

Entering in the second period in relief of an injured Rick DiPietro, Wade Dubielewicz stopped all 11 shots he faced - including 10 in the third - to secure Arbour's 740th win with the Islanders.

"There are not a lot of big names on this current team, but they all come to play," Arbour said. "They play every shift and they play very hard. They proved it tonight. They never quit."

DiPietro was clipped near the right eye by the stick of Crosby with 6:04 remaining in the second period and did not return.

"He's going to the hospital as we speak," Nolan said. "He walked out on his own and there were no bandages on (his eye). We hope for the best."

Crosby received a double-minor for high-sticking, but New York - which entered with the second-best power-play unit in the league - was unable to cash in during the four-minute man advantage.

Ryan Malone scored a power-play goal and Tyler Kennedy netted the first of his NHL career for the Penguins, who have lost four of their last five games.