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Johnson, Penguins pummel Islanders

Feb 3, 2011 - 4:52 AM Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Tyler Kennedy and Chris Kunitz scored first- period goals, and the Pittsburgh Penguins blanked the New York Islanders, 3-0, at Consol Energy Center.

Brent Johnson stopped all 20 New York shots he faced before getting involved in a scrap with Islanders goaltender Rick DiPietro during the waning moments of regulation.

The fight, which occurred with 16.5 seconds remaining, didn't last long as Johnson knocked DiPietro down with one left hook, leaving Marc-Andre Fleury to preserve the shutout, the second in nine days against the Islanders. Fleury made 29 saves in a 1-0 win on January 25.

"That was my first time (fighting) in the NHL," Johnson said. "I had a couple fights in the minors and a lot in juniors."

Maxime Talbot also lit the lamp for the Penguins, who won their fourth consecutive game to close within a point of first-place Philadelphia in the Atlantic Division.

DiPietro finished with 19 saves for New York, which has dropped 11 straight in the Steel City.

"We had opportunities to shoot and we didn't," said Islanders head coach Jack Capuano.

A questionable hit by Talbot on the Islanders' Blake Comeau incited a scrum, and the Penguins wound up with a power play. As the man advantage was winding down, DiPietro turned away Paul Martin's point shot with the left pad. Kennedy, though, jumped on the rebound in the right circle and fired it past the New York netminder at 8:08 of the first period.

Kunitz beat DiPietro on a backhander from nearly the same spot on the ice five minutes later.

After a scoreless middle frame, Talbot hit the empty net with 41 seconds to go in the third period.

Game Notes

Martin had two assists...Talbot notched his 100th career point...Pittsburgh is 14-1-2 in its last 17 overall against their division rivals...The Islanders haven't won on the road in this series since December 21, 2007.