1. After a scoreless, and uninspiring first period, the Panthers grabbed the lead on Nathan Horton's 17th goal of the season (and 4th against the Islanders) at 7:13 of the 2nd period. It was the first time in the last six home games that the Isles had trailed at any point.
2. The Isles knotted the game 4 1/2 minutes later on a Blake Comeau goal. Dustin Kohn, making his NHL debut, assisted on the goal.
3. The rest of the game turned in a goaltender battle. Dwayne Roloson finished with 32 saves, including four in overtime, while Tomas Vokoun made 34 saves for Florida. Roloson stopped two Panthers in the shootout while Schremp and Matt Moulson connected for the Islanders. It was Schremp's second shootout-deciding goal; he's connected on five of eight attempts in the shootout. Moulson, who leads the Islanders with 19 goals, connected for the third time in four shootout attempts. Roloson picks up his fourth straight Coliseum win, improving his record to 19-8-6. With his next win, he will become the first Islander goalie other than Rick DiPietro to win 20 games since Chris Osgood won 32 in the 2001-02.
... a few more...
4. Horton's goal ended several shutout streaks. It was the Panthers' first goal in 119:55, the first allowed by the Isles at home in 102:38 and the first allowed by Roloson at home in 100:50.
5. With Andy Sutton serving the first of his two-game suspension, a large burden fell on Andrew MacDonald, who played a career-high 27:19. Mark Streit, who missed the final 6:23 of regulation, played 25:47. The Isles dressed four defensemen under the age of 25 1/2 in this game.
6. The win extends the Isles' home winning streak to six games. Four of the six wins have come in the shootout, while the other two have been shutouts. It's the first six-game home winning streak since March 2-25, 2006. The six-game win streak is the second-longest active home win streak in the NHL; Anaheim has won eight straight. Only four teams have had longer home winning streaks than the Isles this season.
7. The Isles now have 30 points in 24 home games (14-8-2). It's only the second time in the last 21 seasons that the Isles have reached 30 points in just 24 games (32 in 24 in 2001-02). They had only 21 points in the first 24 home games last season. They are 23-20-8 overall, going three games above NHL .500 for the seocnd time this season. The Isles are 10-3-1 in their last 14 games, matching their best 14-game stretch since February/March 2007. The are 7-2-0 in calendar year 2010.
8. The Isles improve to 6-5 in shootouts (and 11-8 in games that have taken extra time). They have won five straight home shootouts since an Opening Night defeat and have won four straight shootouts overall. It's only the second time that the Isles have won four straight shootouts (seven straight, over two seasons, in 2006). The Isles' 11 OT/SO wins tie Montreal for the league lead; their 19 trips to overtime are three more than any other team in the NHL. The club record for overtime games is 22; the Isles went 10-12 in the 2006/07 season. Their 19 overtime games is tied for second in club history (done three other times). The Isles are 31-21 all-time in shootouts, including 18-8 at the Coliseum.
9. Doug Weight celebrated his 39th birthday, but the Islander captain remains goal-less this season. The Isles improve to 12-7-2 in games that Weight has appeared; they are 11-13-6 in the 30 games that he has missed.
10. The Panthers still lead the season series two games to one, and five points to four. The final meeting will be in Florida on January 31st. The Isles have never beaten Vokoun in Florida; he's 5-0-0 with two shutouts.
Up next: The Devils return to the Coliseum for the second time this week when the visit on Saturday. The Isles have chased Marty Brodeur to the bench in each of the last two Coliseum meetings. The home team has won all three of the games between the teams this season. The Isles are 5-7-1 in divisional play this season (18-13-7 outside the division). Other than their own division, the Isles have a losing record against only one division: they are 1-3-0 vs. the Pacific Division. The Isles will be looking for their seventh straight home win, last accomplished December 6-29, 2003; Garth Snow recorded the final six of the seven wins. It would also equal the Isles' longest home winning streak in twenty years; they have not had a win streak longer than seven games at home since winning nine straight from December 16, 1989 - January 27, 1990.
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
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