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Broduer sets franchise wins record; Devils hold off Islanders

Mar 28, 2007 - 5:39 AM UNIONDALE, New York (Ticker) -- By dominating the New York Islanders again, Martin Brodeur made some history and helped the New Jersey Devils reach the postseason.

Brodeur defeated the Islanders for the sixth straight time and Zach Parise, Scott Gomez and David Clarkson scored as the Devils took advantage of Rick DiPietro's absence to post a 3-2 victory and clinch a spot in the playoffs.

"You want to get in the playoffs, you're always thinking about the worst scenarios," Brodeur said. "Now we can actually think about actually getting ready for (the playoffs)."

The Devils (45-23-8) have won back-to-back games after a three-game losing streak and are tied with the Pittsburgh Penguins (44-23-10) for first place in the Atlantic Division with 98 points. Pittsburgh beat the Washington Capitals, 4-3, earlier on Tuesday.

Alexei Yashin and Jason Blake scored for the Islanders (36-28-12), who are two points behind the Montreal Canadiens (40-31-6) and Tampa Bay Lightning (41-32-4) for the final two spots in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

"We're still in the fight. We have to keep fighting," Islanders coach Ted Nolan said.

Brodeur set a franchise record with his 44th win of the season, breaking his own club record he has set three times previously, including last year. He stopped 23 shots against New York and is three shy of the NHL record set by Bernie Parent in 1973-74.

"Anytime you beat your own record, it's exciting," Brodeur said. "It feels good."

A chunk of Brodeur's wins have come against the Islanders, a team he has blanked three times this season and 10 times in his career.

While the Devils have no concerns in goal, DiPietro was kept out of the game due to a headache he experienced after Sunday's loss to the New York Rangers. The star goaltender missed almost three full games earlier this month with a head injury suffered in a March 13 game at Montreal.

General manager Garth Snow said DiPietro would not return to action until the goalie is completely recovered. With less than two weeks left in the season, any prolonged absence would be a major blow to the Islanders' playoff hopes.

"It's a big loss for this hockey club," said Islanders center Mike Sillinger, who failed on two scoring chances in the final minute. "We could sit here and feel sorry about ourselves, but other hockey clubs aren't going to feel sorry for us."

Mike Dunham, who struggled in relief of DiPietro earlier this month, allowed three goals on 32 shots before being lifted with 13:21 left in the third period with leg cramps.

Parise opened the scoring with a power-play goal at 6:11 of the first, batting the puck past Dunham in a goal-mouth scramble for his 30th of the season.

"We're playing a lot better the last two games," Parise said. "We're more consistent."

New Jersey's lead increased to 2-0 on a goal credited to Gomez. Patrik Elias fed a pass up ice to Gomez, whose centering pass to Clarkson deflected off Islander defenseman Chris Campoli and past Dunham.

"It was a bad break. It found its way into the net," Dunham said.

Elias, the Devils' leading scorer, had missed the last five games with a groin injury.

The Islanders answered five minutes later with a power-play goal by Yashin, who beat Brodeur with a high slap shot from the top of the left circle. It snapped Brodeur's scoreless streak against the Islanders at 154 minutes.

Clarkson scored a power-play goal from between the circles at 4:44 of the third.