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DiPietro impenetrable as Islanders end home skid vs. Flyers

Feb 8, 2007 - 4:00 AM UNIONDALE, New York (Ticker) -- The New York Islanders took care of some unfinished business against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Rick DiPietro stopped 27 shots for his fifth shutout of the season and Viktor Kozlov and Miroslav Satan scored as the Islanders extended their points streak to eight games with a 2-0 triumph over the Flyers.

In improving to 5-0-3 over their last eight contests, the Islanders have climbed to within two points of idle Carolina for the eighth and final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference. New York, however, had lost each of its previous two home meetings this season with the Flyers, who own the worst record in the NHL (13-33-7).

"They're struggling, but we know they are a good team and we can't relax against them," Kozlov said.

The Islanders certainly did not relax in the middle period, outshooting the Flyers, 14-7.

"I think we got caught out of position in the second period, and that's when they took over the game," Philadelphia captain Peter Forsberg said.

The points streak is the longest of the season for the Islanders, who have been plagued by a series of injuries in recent weeks but welcomed back defensemen Tom Poti (back spasms) and Bruno Gervais (knee) to the lineup on Wednesday.

Poti provided an immediate boost, carrying the puck down the slot and making a backhand pass to Kozlov, who put a backhander from the bottom of the left faceoff circle past goaltender Antero Niittymaki and into the top of the net at 8:13 for a 1-0 lead.

Satan doubled the advantage 3:37 into the second period. He was denied a spectacular goal when his between-the-legs shot after a pass from Andy Hilbert was stopped by Niittymaki. But Satan retrieved his own rebound and buried it for his 18th goal of the season.

Niittymaki kept it a two-goal game several minutes later, when he stopped former Flyer Mike Sillinger on a shorthanded breakaway.

"I had a couple of good saves, but it wasn't enough," Niittymaki said.

DiPietro posted his 11th career shutout, making 10 saves in both the first and third periods while stopping seven shots in the middle session. Islanders coach Ted Nolan employed a game plan that stressed defense first, especially with captain Alexei Yashin sidelined with a knee injury.

"We haven't got the firepower, so we have to play a strong defensive game," Nolan said.

DiPietro, the first overall pick in 2000, made his best save with 12 minutes left in the second, when he slid across the crease to stop R.J. Umberger with a pad save.

"I just threw my body in front of it," DiPietro said. "The coaches reminded us that we have to tighten up defensively this time of year."

Ben Eager had a shorthanded chance midway through the third, but DiPietro stopped his slap shot during a partial breakaway.

Niittymaki made 35 saves for the Flyers, who had won each of their previous four visits to Nassau Coliseum and registered a point in each of their previous last four games overall.

"There is a fine line between winning and losing," Philadelphia coach John Stevens said. "We have to find it."

If not for the play of Niittymaki, the game would have been more lopsided. A minute after cutting down an angle that forced Trent Hunter's shot to ring off the goalpost, the Finn made a nifty save on Jeff Tambellini with three minutes remaining in the third.