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Satan scores in shootout, Islanders edge Rangers

Apr 4, 2007 - 5:33 AM UNIONDALE, New York (Ticker) -- The New York Rangers may soon celebrate a postseason berth, but Wade Dubielewicz and the New York Islanders at least postponed the party.

Dubielewicz stopped all three skaters in the shootout, including Jaromir Jagr in the final round, as the Islanders stayed mathematically alive in the Eastern Conference playoff race with a 3-2 win over the Rangers.

The Rangers needed a victory to clinch their second straight postseason berth, but fell short after Miroslav Satan beat Henrik Lundqvist in the first round of the shootout and Dubielewicz, the Isles' third-string goalie, stopped Michael Nylander, Brendan Shanahan and Jagr.

"If they are going to clinch, let them clinch somewhere else," Islanders coach Ted Nolan said. "We live another day. It may be one in a million, but it's a chance."

Arron Asham and captain Alexei Yashin tallied and defenseman Chris Campoli had two assists for the Islanders, who snapped a four-game losing streak. The win also held the Islanders (37-30-12) faint hope for remaining in playoff contention even though the Montreal Canadiens (42-32-6) beat the Boston Bruins 2-0 on Tuesday.

A regulation loss by the Islanders and a victory by the Canadiens would have eliminated New York from the playoffs.

The Rangers lost for just the sixth time in their last 18 games (12-2-4) and were poised to clinch on the home ice of a bitter rival. They were in 12th place, four points out of the playoffs, when they beat the Islanders on March 5. That victory helped spark a late-season surge.

"We had a chance to clinch tonight," Jagr said. "But if you look at it four of five weeks ago and said we needed to win one game with two games left, I'd take it right away."

Dubielewicz made his second straight start in goal in place of the injured Rick DiPietro and the ineffective Mike Dunham. He stopped 36 shots before the shootout and contained Jagr by poke checking the puck away before Jagr could get off a solid shot.

"I'm not going to lie, I'm pretty happy, he's one of the best players in the world," said Dubielewicz, who earned his first victory since January 6, 2006 against Pittsburgh.

Dubielewicz faced 46 shots in a loss to Ottawa on Saturday and is making the most of a rare opportunity to play.

"He's a great competitor and he comes to play," Islanders defenseman Brendan Witt said.

Satan gave Dubielewicz all the support he would need by beating Lundqvist with a backhander.

"They have points to get and so do we," said Lundqvist, who lost for the first time since March 16. "I hate to lose in shooutouts. It's as simple as that."

The Rangers tied it at 2-2 with a pair of goals about four minutes apart in the second.

Shanahan cut the lead in half on a shorthanded goal at 9:02. He was stopped on a wrist shot from the right circle before regaining the puck behind the net. His attempt to center went off the leg of Dubielewicz and into the net.

Jagr skated around the net and fed Nylander, who put a backhander into the net at 12:52.

Asham was credited with the first goal 2:52 into the game when his centering pass deflected off the stick of the Rangers' Blair Betts and past Lundqvist. Yashin was credited with a second-period goal that deflected off the Rangers' Jason Strudwick and into the net.