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Sabres take early lead, hold off Islanders

Dec 13, 2007 - 4:23 AM By David Whalen PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

BUFFALO, New York (Ticker) -- The Buffalo Sabres halted a modest four-game losing streak against the New York Islanders, scoring three times in the second period en route to a 5-3 victory on Wednesday.

The Sabres opened the scoring 8:43 into the first period on a delayed penalty. Defenseman Nolan Pratt scored when he threw a shot at the net that sailed over the left shoulder of screened goaltender Rick DiPietro.

It was Pratt's first goal as a Sabre since signing with the team as an unrestricted free agent on November 1.

Fellow blue-liner Toni Lydman began the second-period outburst at 4:04, wristing a shot from the left point that found the upper left corner of the net through a screen. It also was Lydman's first tally of the season.

"We were much better at finishing our opportunities," Lydman said. "We had a little time in the game where we weren't as sharp. It was a big win, we needed that."

Ales Kotalik added his ninth goal 54 seconds later, as Jason Pominville worked his way up the right wing boards and fed Kotalik for a one-timer from the slot.

"They put a lot of traffic in front. They've got a lot of big guys," DiPietro said. "I think that's the goal of that second power-play unit, is to get big bodies in front and shoot the puck and hope for a tip or screen the goalie, and it was effective."

The Islanders cut the deficit to 3-1 at 6:17 during a 5-on-3 power play. Former Sabre Miroslav Satan took a cross-ice feed from Mike Sillinger and slapped it into the net before goaltender Ryan Miller could move across the crease.

Buffalo responded with a power-play goal of its own, also during a two-man advantage. Derek Roy redirected a hard pass from Kotalik by DiPietro at 9:34 for his team-leading 11th goal.

"It was a nice play," Roy said. "I happened to get open around the goalie. (Kotalik) faked it, put it back door. I just one-touched it with my backhand.

"We had a lot of chances tonight and we happened to get some goals, and get them early. To get the first goal and open up the game, the guys did a good job."

Richard Park drew New York within 4-2 with 3:15 to go in the session, putting the rebound of Sean Bergenheim's shot over Miller's right shoulder.

Sillinger beat Miller from a bad angle four minutes into the third to make it a one-goal game, but Jochen Hecht restored the two-goal bulge 4:14 later, putting a backhander between the pads of DiPietro.

"He came down my left side with speed and went through my five hole", DiPietro said. "Obviously, one I'd like back."

"Usually when you get those opportunities, it's a sign you're working hard and doing some goods things out there," Pominville said. "Tonight, we were able to capitalize on a few. It was nice to see the guys get rewarded."

Miller made 28 saves for the Sabres, who avenged a home-and-home sweep at the hands of the Islanders to start the season.

DiPietro stopped 36 shots for New York, which has lost six of its last seven games.