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Islanders try to rebound from poor effort

Oct 7, 2006 - 4:04 PM NY Islanders (0-1-0) at San Jose (1-0-0) 10:30 pm EDT

SAN JOSE, California (Ticker) -- On the ice, there was plenty of enthusiasm surrounding the New York Islanders this offseason. That absorbed a major blow Thursday.

The Islanders look to rebound from a horrendous start when they play the San Jose Sharks on Saturday in the second of a four-game road trip.

New York hired a new coach in Ted Nolan and signed goaltender Rick DiPietro to a shocking contract in the offseason, but stumbled badly out of the gate against the Phoenix Coyotes.

The Islanders started off well against the Coyotes as Miroslav Satan scored just 1:45 into the game, but things went downhill from there as Phoenix pumped in six straight goals en route to a 6-3 victory.

DiPietro started but was yanked after allowing six goals on 32 shots.

New York, which was outshot 44-29, went 1-for-7 on the power play.

San Jose opened its season on Thursday with a 5-4 overtime triumph over the St. Louis Blues. Curtis Brown scored the game-winner at 2:12 of the extra session right after St. Louis tied the game in regulation with just five seconds left.

Milan Michalek scored two goals while Joe Thornton had three assists for the Sharks, who went 2-for-8 on the power play.