Stat Trick: Isles 3, Rangers 1

Break up the Islanders!  The Isles improve to 2-1-2 in their last five games by earning their first regulation win of the season, 3-1 over the rival Rangers.  On to the trick...

1.  All three players on the Islanders' top line: Matt Moulson, Kyle Okposo and John Tavares scored goals.  Moulson scored in the first minutes, Okposo on a second period power play for his first goal in nine games, and Tavares with five minutes left to seal the deal. Tavares, playing in his first Islander-Ranger game, was on-ice for all three Islander goals.

2. Dwayne Roloson made 41 saves and was named the game's top star.  The Isles have earned points in five of his six starts (2-1-3). It was Roloson's first win over the Rangers since February, 2004 when he best current Islander goalie coach Mike Dunham.

3. The win broke several streaks, including a Ranger five-game win streak on Long Island, a Ranger four-game win streak over the Islanders, and an Islander fourteen game streak without a regulation win against anyone --dating back to last April 4th vs Tampa Bay.

...and a few more...

4. Face-offs continue to be a strong part of the Islanders' game.  The Isles won 36 of 56, including all five that occurred during Islander power plays.  One of the wins led directly to Okposo's goal.  Richard Park won 10 of 13, while John Tavares won 7 of 11.

5.  The Isles out-hit the Rangers, 38-24.  Seven different Islanders were credited with at least four hits.

6.  Kyle Okposo had a strong game and led the Isles with seven shots on goal. Ryan Callahan led the Rangers with six shots on goal.

7.  PA Parenteau scored the only goal for the Rangers.  Parenteau, who played five games for Chicago in 2006-07, was making his Ranger debut in place of the injured Marian Gaborik.  It was the first goal the Isles had allowed in the first period at home since Sidney Crosby scored on opening night.

8.  Tha attendance was announced at 15,213, which would make it one of the least-attended Islander-Ranger games since seating in the Coliseum expanded in the early 1980's.

9. Not only did the Islanders win the game, but they won the third period as well as they scored the session's only goal.  The Isles have been outscored 17-8 in the third period this season.

10.  Jeff Tambellini assisted on Tavares' goal.  He has a point in three straight games for the second time in his NHL career.

Up next: The Isles travel to DC on Friday at 7:00 as Scott Gordon looks to do something that he's never done before -- beat the Capitals.  Washington has won all five games between the clubs (three in overtime) since Gordon became the Islander coach.  To do so the Isles will need to solve the dreaded "Post Ranger Win Letdown".  They have lost the last four games that immediately followed wins over the Rangers.
 Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick, statistician on Islander home telecasts since 1982. Visit my blog: forever1940.blogspot.com and follow me on Twitter @ehornick