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Biron lifts Flyers over Islanders

Nov 11, 2008 - 11:26 PM UNIONDALE, New York (Ticker) -- With plenty of help from his penalty killers, Martin Biron continued his mastery of the New York Islanders.

Biron recorded 35 saves as the Philadelphia Flyers handed the New York Islanders their third straight defeat with a 3-1 decision on Tuesday.

The veteran goaltender came within just 3:40 of his first shutout of the season. Biron improved to 16-4-1 with a 1.87 goals-against average in 21 career games against the Islanders.

"I don't know why it is - whether or not it's the building," Biron said when asked about his success against the Islanders. "I've had a good run."

Philadelphia killed off all eight New York power plays and even scored a shorthanded goal as captain Mike Richards converted a 2-on-1 with 9:09 remaining in the third period to give the Flyers a 2-0 lead.

The Flyers, who snapped a three-game slide, have won nine of their last 10 contests against the Islanders, including both meetings this season.

"It obviously was not the perfect game," Richards said. "We gave up a lot of shots. Our penalty kill was good. Marty played well and we cashed in on a couple of opportunities."

The Islanders were disjointed on the power play, failing to convert a 5-on-3 for 47 seconds late in the first period and another one for a full two minutes midway through the second.

"I didn't realize the second 5-on-3 was a two-man advantage because the guys did a good job neutralizing them," said Biron, who faced only two shots during that power play.

Just over a minute after Philadelphia killed its second two-man disadvantage, Daniel Briere got the Flyers on the board with 6:20 remaining in the second period before leaving the game with an undisclosed lower body injury.

Using New York defenseman Brett Skinner as a screen, Briere beat goaltender Joey MacDonald to the stick wide with a wrist shot from just inside the right point.

With Kimmo Timonen in the box for tripping, Simon Gagne and Richards caught the Islanders on a 2-on-1 break.

MacDonald made a kick save on Gagne's shot from the right circle, but Richards slammed in the rebound.

"It was a big breakdown to give up one shorthanded," said MacDonald, who stopped 29 shots.

"Two guys cannot beat five guys coming back to the net. Our power play has to outwork their penalty kill. I don't think it did that."

Biron lost his shutout bid when Trent Hunter beat him with a soft shot from the right wing with 3:40 remaining.

However, New York center Josh Bailey, who was making his NHL debut, took a high sticking penalty a minute later.

After killing the penalty, the Islanders couldn't get the puck in the Flyers' zone in the final minute, and Timonen's empty-netter - his first goal of the season - sealed the win with four seconds to go.

"We need to have a little more risk in our game," New York coach Scott Gordon said. "That being said, it was probably one of our better games 5-on-5. We just didn't bury our chances."