Shootout!

The Rangers and Islanders played 65 minutes of hockey without resolution last night, so they engaged in the first ever shootout for both teams. Three players from each team took shots and when it was over the Islanders had the lone goal and a 3-2 victory.

Rick DiPietro was the hero of the game for the Islanders stopping 32 shots, including 14 in the first period when the Rangers opened the game with several great scoring chances. Alexei Yashin got the Islanders on the scoreboard midway through the first period during a two-man advantage. Miroslav Satan made it 2-0 28 seconds into the third period, but the Islanders deflected the puck into their own net to make it a 2-1 game. The Rangers knotted it at two when Petr Prucha scored with five minutes left in the game.

Neither team scored in overtime setting up a shootout that brought the sellout crowd to their feet. Prucha and Yashin both failed to score on their shots, but Satan buried it in the net to make it 1-0. Jaromir Jagr came down the ice and broke his stick allowing DiPietro to make an easy save. Mark Parrish missed with his shot allowing the Rangers one last chance, but Michael Nylander's shot hit the post and the Islanders had the win. Both teams will play again tonight on Long Island.

Photo by Newsday/David Pokress via Newsday.com