The Devils’ Stanley Cup aspirations? The lottery-picking Islanders, worst in the NHL, made them look like pretenders.
“There’s a fine line in this league between being good and not so good. On this trip, we showed that if we get on the wrong side of that line, we’re not-so-good,” captain Jamie Langenbrunner said after the Devils were blanked 4-0 by Yann Danis and the Isles last night at the Coliseum.
The shutout was the second suffered by the Devils on their three-game road trip (1-2). They managed just two goals in the three games, both in a 3-2 shootout victory in Tampa Thursday.
“A bad road trip. Very bad,” said Bobby Holik, guilty of the costly giveaway that set up the Isles’ second goal in the first period.
“This road trip should be a good wake-up call for these guys,” coach Brent Sutter said. “Two of six points, you can’t be happy, especially if you want to be a team that’s pushing [the top].”
Danis, who made 39 saves, provided the Isles’ first shutout of the season and second victory in nine games (2-6-1).
“I came so close so many times, to finally get one is great,” Danis said of his second career shutout, and first since beating Atlanta with Montreal, Oct. 12, 2005.
“I tried not to, but obviously it crossed my mind a couple of times,” Danis said.
The Isles, who scored their first victory in five against the Devils this season, got off to a quick start. It was three shots for a quarter for Sean Bergenheim, who put the Isles on top with the third 3:50 into play.
In the opening minute, Bergenheim waltzed through Bryce Salvador, then fired through Johnny Oduya, to be foiled by Scott Clemmensen’s stick. Bergenheim collared the rebound, however, and Clemmensen made a miracle save, diving across the crease to deny Bergenheim with his stick.
The Devils had just squandered their first power play and Bergenheim was back on-ice. Mark Streit came out of the box and raced up left wing against Anssi Salmela, who gave ground, and Bergenheim found room in the right slot to accept the pass and cleanly beat Clemmensen’s glove for his eighth – the third Islanders shot of the game.
Clemmensen made another half-dozen sparkling saves before Jon Sim gave the Isles a two-goal lead. From his end boards, Bobby Holik sent an ill-advised air pass into the slot, that Mike Rupp couldn’t handle. Sim pounced and backhanded his eighth under Clemmensen at 8:45 of the second.
Kyle Okposo added the third Isles’ goal with 3:53 left, on the power play, and Bill Guerin finished it off with 2:08 remaining, scoring on a 5-on-3 power play.
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Martin Brodeur is expected to work out with coaches today after not taking the ice yesterday, feeling the effects of the flu that has hit the team. He is expected to have his first full scrimmage practice tomorrow, which would just allow three before Thursday’s next game, against Colorado, and it’s believed team officials think that four is a better number, and Saturday against the Panthers or Sunday vs. the Flyers is the right time.
Islanders 4 Devils 0