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Guerin, DiPietro spark Islanders past Devils

Jan 17, 2008 - 4:12 AM NEWARK, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Bill Guerin and Rick DiPietro's extended the New York Islanders' dominance of the New Jersey Devils.

The captain scored two goals and DiPietro made 37 saves to lift the Islanders to a 3-1 victory over the Devils on Wednesday night.

Mike Sillinger also scored for New York, which has won all five meetings with New Jersey this season and has beaten the Devils six straight times.

"I'm not worried about the first four, it's what we did to not win it tonight," Devils coach Brent Sutter said. "We had quality chances and their goaltender made some big saves. He played a (heck) of a game."

DiPietro was magnificent for the Islanders, turning aside 13 shots in the second period and 16 in the third to improve to 4-0 against New Jersey this season.

"He's going to the All-Star Game for the first time," said Islanders coach Ted Nolan of DiPietro. "He's coming of age. You (saw) him maturing last season, you see him even take another step this season. He's an All-Star."

Guerin notched his fourth multi-goal game of the season and had eight in his last 13 games to help New York extend its road winning streak to a season-high three games.

With the Devils swarming for the equalizer in the final period, DiPietro made a tremendous glove save on Dainius Zubrus just inside two minutes.

"There was a couple of pucks whacked away and I was able to get my glove on it," DiPietro said. "It was important. These are huge points."

Guerin then scored into an empty net - his 17th tally of the season - with exactly one minute remaining for the clincher.

"I feel like every game we played (against New Jersey) has been a good game," Guerin said. "It was a one-goal game without the empty-netter. It's not like it's been a dominating effort by us every single time. They've been good hockey games."

Travis Zajac had pulled New Jersey within 2-1, tipping a shot past DiPietro with 12:49 left in the final period.

After withstanding some early pressure by the Devils, the Islanders jumped on top when defensemen Colin White and Mike Mottau were assessed penalties with 6:10 left in the opening period.

Taking advantage of the 5-on-3 situation, New York used some pretty passing to take a 1-0 lead on Guerin's 16th goal of the season.

Miroslav Satan fed a pass from the left point to Mike Comrie on the right side of the net. Comrie slid a pass across the crease to a waiting Guerin, who whipped it into an open net before goaltender Martin Brodeur could get in position.

"It was a big goal for us," DiPietro said. "Any time you get a 5-on-3 you want to capitalize. Otherwise, it can end up hurting you in the long run. That team feeds off a long kill like that."

The Islanders doubled the advantage early in the middle session, capitalizing on some sloppy play by the Devils.

Trent Hunter gained control of the puck behind the net and slipped a pass in front to Sillinger, who shoveled it into the right side of the net past the glove of Brodeur for a 2-0 lead at 4:17.

"I was able to get the puck behind the net and Sillie did a good job of getting open in front and I was able to get him the puck and he made a good shot," Hunter said.

Consecutive power-plays in the final three minutes of the period had the Devils on the offensive, but DiPietro was equal to the task, turning aside Zach Parise twice and making a glittering save on Patrik Elias, snatching his point-blank shot out of the air with his glove.

"We had a lot of opportunities and he made unbelievable saves, especially in that third period," Elias said.

"He made huge saves," said Devils right wing Brian Gionta, who had five shots on goal. "He played extremely well. We got to find a way to score."

Brodeur made 20 saves and fell to 0-4 against New York this season.

"Marty's on his way to being the best of all time right now," Guerin said. "And Ricky's proving to everyone that he's one of the elite goaltenders in the league and to do that, he's got to go head-to-head against (the best goalies)."