Trailing 1-0 after eight minutes of action, the Devils responded valiantly, utilizing a brilliant special terms game plan and a decisive third period effort. Zach Parise broke the 2-2 tie in the third and Brian Gionta sealed New Jersey’s fourth consecutive win, scoring his 16th goal of the season and temporarily shifting the Devils into the Eastern Conference lead.

Entering the contest winners in six straight, the Islanders looked to extend that mark to seven games for the first time since the 1989-90 season. Josef Vasicek beat goalie Martin Brodeur at 7:55 of the first period, staking the Islanders to an early 1-0 lead. Andy Hilbert assisted on Vasicek’s 13th, his third against the Devils thus far. Earlier this season, Vasicek also notched a shorthanded goal, in a 1-0 Islanders win at the Rock on Nov. 16.

However, Sean Bergenheim committed a hooking infraction, sending New Jersey on its second of five power play chances.

After keeping the puck in the offensive area, Patrik Elias one-timed a rocket past Islanders goaltender Rick DiPietro. Johnny Oduya and Zach Parise assisted on Elias’ 17th, just 2:21 after Vasicek put the Islanders on the board. With the goal, Elias snapped an eight-game goal-less streak. Elias, though, still produced lately, having earned 8 assists in the past 6 games.

Less than 90 seconds later, John Madden gave the Devils their first lead. With teammate Mike Mottau in the penalty box for hooking, Madden produced his third shorthanded tally of the season, deflecting the puck off DiPietro and into the cage. Defenseman Paul Martin assisted on Madden’s 17th at 11:36.

Nearly replicating a play in this past Monday’s 5-1 win over Carolina, Madden attempted to thread the needle to a cutting Pandolfo, but DiPietro intercepted the puck, knocking it into his own net.

Madden’s career high for shorthanded goals in a season is six, an NHL record established in his rookie season. With 36 points in 60 games, Madden, the eight-year veteran, is on pace to break his all-time single season record of 41 points set in the 2002-03 season.

The Devils outshot the Islanders 13-8 in the opening frame.

At 1:53 of the second, Ruslan Fedotenko whisked his 14th of the season past Brodeur, assisted by Trent Hunter and Frans Nielsen. But, the Islanders failed to score during an ensuing 5-on-3 power play for 1:17 of the second, ending the middle frame tied at 2-2. Both teams had 9 shots on goal during the period.

In the final stanza, the Devils overpowered the Islanders, outshooting them 20-4 and outscoring them 2-0.

With both teams skating four men aside, Zach Parise extended his scoring streak to a career-best five games, utilizing another fortuitous bounce. Dainius Zubrus cleared the puck out of the Devils zone, eluding both Isles’ defensemen. Parise sped into the Islanders zone, releasing a wicked shot past DiPietro and off the inner goal post. Brodeur added the secondary helper, his third of the season and first since Feb. 4th's rare home win versus Pittsburgh, on Parise’s team-leading 25th tally of the season.

During the Devils 3-2 win over San Jose this past Wednesday night, Parise raced after a loose puck situated between the hash marks. He beat Shark's reserve netminder Thomas Greiss to the puck, slipping it under Greiss, making just his third career NHL start.

The Devils increased their lead to 4-2 just 2:13 later.

Defenseman Colin White managed to keep the frozen disc in the offensive zone, firing it at DiPietro. Stationed in front, Gionta located the loose puck, registering it past the Isles’ netminder with the Devils fourth and final tally of the afternoon. White and Langenbrunner were credited with assists on Gionta’s 16th of the season, essentially putting this game out of reach.

New Jersey went 1-5 on its man advantage and killed off all three Islanders power plays, including the crucial two-man advantage in the second period.

The Devils improved to 36-21-5 with the victory, distancing themselves from the hapless Flyers, who’ve lost nine straight and who've fallen into the Atlantic Division basement. The Devils temporarily shifted into the Eastern Conference lead, one point ahead of Ottawa, who visited Pittsburgh later in the day.

Tomorrow, they face a difficult stretch away from the downtown Newark arena, visitors in 8 of the next 10 contests.

Minnesota and Colorado welcome the Devils, who are 5-3-0 against the Western Conference thus far.

Despite the loss, the Islanders (30-26-7) remain in contention for the playoffs. They are one point behind the Rangers, Bruins and Sabres, all tied with 68 points and possessors of the sixth through eighth seeds in the conference. They host Pittsburgh on Tuesday before traveling to Atlanta on Thursday.

The Islanders have been struck with the injury bug at the worst part of the season. Six players are listed on injury reserve, including Mike Sillinger, who will undergo season-ending hip surgery next week. In positive news, the Islanders signed Trent Hunter to a 5-year $10-million contract extension and they welcomed Chris Simon back to the lineup for the second game, after he served an NHL-record 30-game suspension.

Notes:

White returned to the lineup after missing the last game with an upper body injury. Vitaly Vishnevski and Karel Rachunek were healthy scratches.

Head coach Brent Sutter's mother, wife and daughter attended this contest as well as the last one.

Hummer Metro Ice Standings (Points)

Islanders 16

Rangers 12

Devils 5 (1-7-3)

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