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Fedotenko, Bergenheim lead Islanders' offensive surge

Feb 17, 2008 - 4:25 AM UNIONDALE, New York (Ticker) -- The New York Islanders appear to have righted the ship.

Ruslan Fedotenko and Sean Bergenheim continued to contribute and Miroslav Satan scored a rare goal as the Islanders extended their winning streak to three games with a 4-1 triumph over the Atlanta Thrashers on Saturday.

Defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron also tallied for New York, which fired 49 shots on goal while limiting Atlanta to a mere 10 - including two in the second period.

"I think the 10 shots allowed is more impressive than the 49 shots that we took," Islanders coach Ted Nolan said. "When you play a team like Atlanta with (Ilya) Kovalchuk, (Marian) Hossa and other explosive players and keep them in check, I would say this is one of the most complete efforts we have had since we have been here. You give high marks to everyone."

"As far as team defense, it was one of our best games," New York All-Star goaltender Rick DiPietro added. "To limit a team with that much offensive capability was really a big step for us. We were in a big funk and dug a pretty big hole, but if we continue to play the way we have been playing, we give ourselves a chance to win every night."

After six straight regulation losses, the Islanders finally earned a point in an overtime setback at Minnesota on February 9. Since then, the club has gone on an offensive tear, scoring 13 goals in the three consecutive wins.

"Throwing pucks at the net is one thing, but throwing pucks with people in front is another," Nolan said. "Tonight we did both things, and it worked well. It was a real good team effort. We never lost faith in this team. The flu and injuries, everything caught up to us at the same time. The guys have worked real hard to get back into it and are focused and refreshed."

"Defensively, we are not giving too many odd-man rushes," Fedotenko added. "Offensively, we are always trying to have somebody at the net."

Satan began the scoring in this one, ending a nine-game drought with 5:08 remaining in the first period. The Slovakian received a backhand pass from behind the net by Richard Park and fired the puck into an open left side of the net for his 12th goal of the season and a 1-0 lead.

Fedotenko continued his hot play 90 seconds into the middle period, doubling the advantage with his fourth tally in three games. After grabbing a rebound on the right side of the net, the Russian had his wraparound attempt at the left goalpost stopped by Kari Lehtonen but lifted a backhander past the goaltender for his 13th of the campaign.

"I feel like our line is clicking better," Fedotenko said. "Personally, I am playing with more confidence. I am taking more chances offensively."

New York cashed in during a 5-on-3 advantage midway through the period as Bergeron blasted a shot from the top of the slot by Lehtonen at 12:03. It was the ninth goal for the blue-liner, eight of which have come on the power play.

Bergenheim made it 4-0 at 7:50 of the third with his third goal in four games. Defenseman Freddy Meyer gained possession in the right corner and dished to Bergenheim, who beat Lehtonen with a wrister for his seventh of the season.

"I don't think it is anything more than the chances are going in," Bergenheim said of his recent success. "I feel more comfortable. I don't think too much of my game has changed. When you get the confidence, you keep the puck a little bit more and look for plays."

"He is an impressionable young kid," Nolan said. "When he sees his peers - like Fedotenko - going to the net, he's going to go right to the net. His timing is a lot better, and it has paid off."

DiPietro recorded his fifth assist of the campaign on the play, eclipsing the club record set in 2001-02 by Chris Osgood.

"As a goalie, you'd rather have a shutout record or wins," DiPietro said. "It's nice. ... As long as you win, everything else is extra."

Todd White ruined DiPietro's shutout bid by scoring a power-play goal with 77 seconds remaining in the contest.

Lehtonen made 45 saves for the Thrashers, who had their three-game winning streak snapped.

"It's frustrating, especially after the way we played the last few games," Atlanta coach Don Waddell said. "They were the more desperate team right from the start. ... If you get 10 shots in a game, you're not going to win many games. Our energy level was not there tonight."

"We decided not to show up tonight," Lehtonen added. "They did some things well and we didn't do anything well. It didn't matter if they scored 10 goals or two goals, anyone could see that we did not give ourselves a chance."

Atlanta captain Bobby Holik agreed with his coach and netminder.

"We were not willing to outwork them. That is why you get the result that you do," Holik said. "We would be disappointed if we gave the effort that we needed and still lost. We didn't deserve to win. We should be more angry at ourselves than frustrated and disappointed."