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Burns' OT goal extends Islanders' slide

Feb 10, 2008 - 3:21 AM ST. PAUL, Minnesota (Ticker) -- The New York Islanders just can't seem to get a break.

Defenseman Brent Burns scored at 2:34 of overtime Saturday to lift the Minnesota Wild to a 4-3 victory over the Islanders, who have lost seven straight overall and four in a row on the road.

Brian Rolston tallied twice and defenseman Kurtis Foster added a goal and an assist for the Wild, who improved to 23-0-1 when leading after two periods.

Captain Bill Guerin scored a goal and set up another and Mike Comrie collected two assists for New York, which has scored just 11 goals during its losing streak.

"Everyone was battling hard," Guerin said. "Everyone had an impact on the game tonight and did something. It was a good effort. We can't worry about effort now. We need results."

"We're definitely not happy with the result, but the game itself, I don't know how much better we could play," Islanders coach Ted Nolan added. "Our guys gave what they have."

The Islanders outshot the Wild, 29-18, but it was all for naught as Minnesota improved to 19-12-2 in such instances.

After All-Star Marian Gaborik made a sensational move to get around a defender in the slot, he was unable to get off a shot on goal. The puck squirted to the left side, where Burns managed to tap it off defenseman Radek Martinek and past goaltender Rick DiPietro for his 10th goal of the season.

A former forward, Burns continues to take advantage of the chances to join the offense afforded to him by coach Jacques Lemaire.

"Burns has the potential to skate and to come back," Lemaire said of the forward-turned-defenseman. "He's got a good touch when he plays at the other end. I know he's got quite a few points (30). If you do go offense and you get the points, I'm fine with that. It's when you go up front and get (nothing), stay back."

The Wild grabbed the lead late in the first period on Foster's fifth goal. Off a pass from Stephane Veilleux, Foster unleashed a one-timer from the right point that sneaked just inside the left goalpost with 3:17 remaining in the session.

The goal ended Minnesota's drought at 112 minutes, 44 seconds.

Guerin ended a personal eight-game drought 38 seconds into the second period to forge a 1-1 tie. Carrying down the left wing, Comrie faked a slap shot and made a cross-slot pass to Guerin, who easily tapped the puck into the net for his 19th of the season.

Rolston scored the first of his two goals at 11:10, when rookie James Sheppard's shot from the right faceoff circle deflected off him and past a screened DiPietro for a 2-1 edge.

But New York again struck early in a period, as Andy Hilbert banked a loose puck off the right goalpost after Guerin's wraparound attempt on the other side failed 27 seconds into the third.

Sheppard's attempt to restore Minnesota's lead failed when he hit the left post with less than 5 1/2 minutes remaining, and New York jumped ahead shortly thereafter.

From low along the right wing boards, defenseman Andy Sutton dished to Sean Bergenheim in front. One day after celebrating his 24th birthday, Bergenheim had his first shot stopped but buried the rebound with 4:05 left, giving the Islanders a 3-2 advantage.

New York had little time to enjoy the lead, however, as Rolston scored his eighth goal in as many games 41 seconds later. DiPietro stopped Mikko Koivu's slap shot from the left circle, but the rebound went right to Rolston, who had the puck hit his leg before he poked it into a vacant net for his 22nd of the campaign.

"It came off pretty hot, but I just got it with my knee pad and just batted it in," Rolston said. "(DiPietro) played a pretty good game. You can't fault him for that (goal)."

Niklas Backstrom made 26 saves for Minnesota, which had lost its previous two games but recorded three points on its three-game homestand.

"If you want to make the playoffs, we have to win the games at home and play really well on the road," Backstrom said. "So every win is big. It's a big difference to get one or two points. We got two points today, and that's huge for us."

DiPietro turned aside 14 shots for the Islanders, who fell to 2-21-3 when trailing after 40 minutes.