Witt’s 1st career 2-goal game lifts Isles over Oilers

November 3, 2009   ·   Derek Felix   ·   Jump to comments

It was Brendan Witt Night at The Coliseum. Never before had the 15-year veteran blueliner scored more than a goal in 861 previous NHL games. However, with his first two-goal performance highlighting the Islanders’ 3-1 win over the Oilers for the club’s fourth win in a row, that finally changed.

Witt’s two second period markers proved to be the difference as the Isles stayed hot last night to move over the .500 mark (5-4-5) for the first time this season.

“It’s easier when you’re winning, but we want to remind ourselves that we can’t get away from what made us successful—it’s hard work,” Witt said.

“The guys have been on the same page now for a little bit and we’re starting to see some results,” Kyle Okposo pointed out. “I don’t think that we’ve changed a ton of how we’ve played, but I think that the team has a lot of confidence.”

That much has been obvious during a stretch that’s seen the Islanders rack up all eight points against good teams to get within striking distance of the rest of a competitive Atlantic. A fourth consecutive victory kept them in a tie for fourth with the Flyers, who also prevailed yesterday afternoon prior to Game Five of the World Series. Seven total points separates first place Pittsburgh from the Isles and Philly with the Rangers four ahead and the Devils one up.

During the win streak, Dwayne Roloson’s been in for three including 22 saves versus Edmonton. Early on, he was strong making a couple of stops from in tight. However, the Oilers got on the board first when Ethan Moreau’s backhand wraparound banked off Radek Martinek’s skate past Roloson at 11:02 of the first. Zach Stortini and Andrew Cogliano assisted. Moments later, he denied Ales Hemsky on the doorstep to keep it a one-goal deficit.

That would prove large as the home team struck back 3:49 later when prize rookie John Tavares converted a Matt Moulson feed from behind the net for his fifth of the season with 5:09 left. The play was set up by team captain Doug Weight, whose yeoman work freed up the puck from two Oilers. Moulson followed up the play and quickly dished out for a wide open Tavares, who potted it from nine feet. Tavares nearly had a second off a good feed from Okposo but Nikolai Khabibulin thwarted it.

Following another Roloson denial on Hemsky, Andy Sutton leveled Tom Gilbert with a clean shoulder along the boards which Jean-Francois Jacques took immeditate exception to, instigating a fight which the rugged Islander defenseman won. As both Isles’ broadcast tandem Howie Rose and Billy Jaffe alluded to, the refs got it right giving Jacques the instigator plus a misconduct for 17 total penalty minutes compared to Sutton’s five. Rose made a valid point as well that it seems any clean hit now isn’t tolerated by players, who feel it necessary to retaliate. There was nothing dirty about Sutton’s hit. He would also register another one later on without any reaction.

With the game still knotted early in the second, Witt got his first off an innocent looking prayer that seemed to change directions, surprising Khabibulin for an Islander 2-1 lead at 2:32. On the play, Frans Nielsen got to a dump in and wound the puck around to Witt, who threw a shot towards the net. Nielsen was in the vicinity. On the replay, it might’ve nicked off his skate. But for now, Witt remains credited with his first.

Regardless, that same man would definitely score a second more traditionally when he fired a point shot past Khabibulin 10:03 later for a two-goal Islander lead. Jeff Tambellini started it with a strong effort, forcing Khabibulin to stop two backhands. But he stayed with it to keep the play alive. Eventually, it came to Weight, who quickly fed Witt for his second of the game.

“The first one kind of caught Khabibulin … I don’t think he was ready,” Witt noted. “The second one, I got fortunate. I think it went off one of their guys and beat him. You never know what happens when you throw the puck at the net.”

Weight nearly made it 4-1 but was stoned by Khabibulin. He still drew a power play midway through the third which they didn’t convert on. With the Edmonton net empty, Witt heard his name chanted by Islander fans who wanted a hat trick for the tough character.

“It would’ve been nice, but whatever,” he said.

Not a bad night’s work for a hard working player.

Notes: With a goal, Tavares extended to four straight with a point (2-2-4). He’s 5-6-11 in 14 GP. … Okposo saw his four-game point streak end. … For his career, Witt’s had four two-point efforts. Last night was his first since Mar.26, 2002 when he played for the Caps against the Sabres. … Former Islander Mike Comrie missed his fifth game in six due to the flu which has ridden the Oilers. … While the Isles went 0 for 4 on the power play, they weren’t shorthanded once showing great discipline. … With a helper, Tambellini has four points in his last two and over a six-game stretch, has all eight of his points. The best hockey of his career. … Since returning in a 3-1 win over the Rangers, Weight has five assists and has gone plus-five during the win streak.

… Isles outhit the Oilers 29-21 paced by Sutton’s game high five crunchers. … New York won the faceoff battle going 59 percent (32-of-54) getting strong nights from Nielsen (8-4), Josh Bailey (5-2) and Tavares (12-10). Edmonton’s best was Cogliano, who went 6-4. … Islanders (5-4-5, 15 Pts) visit Buffalo tomorrow night and then the Devils Friday for two more good tests.

BONY 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Doug Weight, (2 assists, SOG, 3 takeaways, 1-0 draws, +2 in 17:57)

2nd Star-Dwayne Roloson, (22 saves incl.14 last 2 periods for 3rd win in row)

1st Star-Brendan Witt, (1st 2-goal NHL game, 3 SOG, 3 hits, +2 in 17:14)