The New York Islanders (14-19-6) were unable to skate by tricky Shane Doan and the Phoenix Coyotes (20-17-5) in NHL action on Saturday night. New York has dropped the last two on the West Coast, as the guys also suffered from a 4-2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Friday.
Frans Nielsen (7) scored the lone goal for the Islanders at the 10:00 mark of the first period of play, to tie the game at one at the time. Phoenix took over thanks to winger Shane Doan (12) who recorded the first hat trick of his career.
Also tallying goals for Phoenix were Taylor Pyatt (5) and Oliver Ekman-Larsson (7). Doan began the scoring early for the Yotes, recording a writer at the 1:41 mark of the first.
Doan’s goal in the first period was the ninth time in 39 games this season that an Isles opponent scores on the opening salvo. It was not the type of night the Isles were hoping for, as three members were celebrating milestones in the game.
Captain Mark Streit, John Tavares and Josh Bailey were all celebrating milestone moments. For Streit the blueliner was playing in his 400th game, while Bailey and Tavares were playing in their 250th and 200th respectively.
Keeper Evgeni Nabokov (20 saves) remains stuck on 298 career victories, and he and the guys will return home on Tuesday to record that milestone. The Isles will play host to the Detroit Red Wings that night, with face-off scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
Written on January 8, 2012
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