NHL

DEVS MOUTH OFF – BUT ISLES HAVE LAST WORD

The Islanders rammed the foolish words right back down the Devils’ throats.

“You can’t lose a game that way,” coach Brent Sutter lamented after the Isles beat his Devils 2-1 last night at the Coliseum on Miro Satan’s third-period 5-on-3 goal, the result of a behind-the-bench protest deemed unsportsmanlike conduct.

Sutter would not reveal who opened his mouth, except to say “It was from behind the bench. It wasn’t the players.”

Satan converted the two-man edge for his third straight game-winning goal, stretching the Isles’ winning streak to four games, with six triumphs in seven.

Satan spoiled Martin Brodeur’s bid for his 500th victory, leaving the Devils 1-2-1 in four. New Jersey had tied the game early in the third on Dainius Zubrus’ third goal in two games, after Josef Vasicek put the Isles on top in the first.

“We didn’t panic. We got that power play and we capitalized. We had to be equally patient as the Devils tonight,” Islanders goalie Rick DiPietro said. “We’re playing well and getting consistent effort.”

The Devils can’t boast the same, now 3-5-2 in 10 and last in the Atlantic Division. What they could complain about was their lack of power plays, zero, while the Isles had four. And the mouth-compounded two-man disadvantage remained the point of contention.

“It was a [bleeping] terrible call. There’s no way around it,” the Devils’ Zach Parise said.

“I don’t think he needed to call that,” Jay Pandolfo said.

But the Devils put themselves at risk for that penalty.

Off to the sixth-best start in team history, the Islanders took the lead 17:13 into play on Vasicek’s fifth with the team. Devil Patrik Elias handed his stick to Johnny Oduya in the defensive zone and Karel Rachunek turned over the puck. Chris Campoli fired from the left circle and Vasicek nudged home the rebound before Brodeur could find it.

The Isles continued to maintain the better of play through the scoreless second, prompting Sutter to shuffle his line again. He moved Arron Asham to the right of Travis Zajac and Parise, while Brian Gionta joined Sergei Brylin and Elias.

Sutter put Zubrus with Zajac and Parise in the third, and Zubrus tied the game at 1:10. DiPietro’s clearing attempt up the boards was grabbed by Karel Rachunek, whose shot went off Zubrus in front. Zubrus’ second swat at that rebound slipped his third of the season, and in two games, behind DiPietro.

Satan put the Isles back in front at 6:45, after those bench complaints about Sheldon Brookbank’s penalty left the Devils facing a 5-on-3. Campoli, from the left point, found Trent Hunter at the left side of the net, and Hunter whipped the puck across the goal mouth to give Satan a back-door slam at the right side. Satan stretched his point streak to 5-5-10 in seven games.

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In what turned into a slick move, the Islanders yesterday reacquired 26-year-old defenseman Freddy Meyer IV from the Coyotes on re-entry waivers, meaning the Coyotes will play half of his remaining $550G salary and assume that half of his remaining salary-cap liability.

Phoenix claimed him from the Islanders earlier this season, sent him down and tried to recall him. He played five games with Phoenix and eight with farm San Antonio. Since waiver priority works in reverse of current standings since Nov. 1, the Devils passed on the chance to pick him up. …

Islander Bill Guerin returned momentarily in the second after being cut over his right eye by a centering attempt by Gionta but left the game shortly thereafter … Patrick Roy is the only other goalie to reach 500 victories, holding the record at 551. He notched his 500th victory in his 933rd game, while Brodeur played his 905th last night. Brodeur, however, has 18 shootout victories among his total, which would have gone down as ties for Roy.

mark.everson@nypost.com