[HelloHockeyFans]

ISLES BLANK BOLTS 1-0


Tom Preissing congratulates Cam Ward on his first shutout of the season.

UNIONDALE, NY - Cam Ward turned aside all 31 shots he faced Sunday afternoon to lead his Islanders to a 1-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

They handed the Islanders a 6-3 defeat Thursday, but the Islanders returned the favour Monday blanking Tampa Bay by a score of 1-0 giving netminder Cam Ward his first shutout of the season.

Despite being a low-scoring affair, the crowd at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum enjoyed an exciting match-up as the teams traded chances throughout the game, unable however, to beat either goaltenders until Tom Preissing's goal in the third period.

Both teams were unable to capitalize with the man-advantage Sunday, with Tampa Bay's Chris Gratton coming the closest in the 1st period fanning on a loose puck with a gaping net in front of him.

With the game tied in a scoreless draw, Tom Preissing's one-timer off a Jiri Hudler pass in the third period proved to be enough for the victory giving the Islanders their second win in as many days.

The Islanders received a scare a minute after Preissing's goal when youngster Robert Nilsson fell awkwardly into the boards in the Tampa Bay zone thanks to a hook courtesy Jeremy Roenick while Nilsson was flying down the side boards in pursuit of a loose puck. Roenick was assigned a minor penalty on the play and given a game misconduct along with Islanders forward Ryan Getzlaf who came to the aid of his fallen teammate.

The Islanders will now get the next two days off before they face off against the New York Rangers on Thursday evening.

Notes - The Bridgeport Sound Tigers erupted for 20 goals Monday afternoon against the Springfield Falcons in AHL action handing the Falcons an embarassing 20-4 defeat. Vladisav Evseev finished the night with 4 goals and 3 assists for a 7-point night.