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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- The New York Islanders' longest unbeaten
streak in five years came to a stunning halt.
Mike Johnson scored the tying goal with 24.2 seconds left in
regulation and then set up Craig Millar's game-winner in overtime
as the Tampa Bay Lightning snapped the Islanders' six-game unbeaten
streak with a 4-3 victory Friday night.
"It was a shocking ending ... there's no question," Islanders
coach Butch Goring said. "It looked like we had the game pretty
much in the bag. It was a great hockey game. We didn't do anything
wrong. I thought we played a good game."
Johnson scored short-handed to tie it 3-3 after New York
defenseman Kenny Jonsson lost the puck near the Islanders blue
line. Johnson then found Millar alone in front of the net with 2:14
left in overtime to snap Tampa Bay's four-game losing streak.
"I never felt so good," said Millar, who scored both of his
career game-winning goals against the Islanders. "I don't know if
I can put it into words. It's a good way to make friends."
Millar was acquired off waivers from Nashville on Oct. 25.
The overtime triumph was Tampa Bay's first at home since March
9, 1997, against Calgary. The Lightning's last extra-session
victory was at the Islanders on Dec. 12, 1998.
"It was the kind of break that our team needed," Johnson said.
The Islanders (5-3-2-1) had not had an unbeaten streak this long
since the 1995-96 season. New York also had its four-game winning
streak stopped, the Islanders' longest stretch since April 1998.
Brad Isbister, who has scored in three straight games, put the
Islanders ahead 2-1 with a power-play goal at 8:41 of the second
period. He set up Tim Connolly's first goal in 18 games during a
2-on-1 at 13:13 to make it 3-1.
"Of course we'll get over it," Isbister said. "We had a good
run. We'll put it behind us and try to start a new streak right
away. This one is over and done with."
Tampa Bay, which got a first-period power-play goal from Pavel
Kubina, got within 3-2 on Stan Drulia's goal at 15:21 of the
second. All four of Kubina's goals have come on the power play.
Garry Galley ended a 25-game goal-scoring drought with a
power-play goal at 3:48 of the first for the Islanders.
Lightning defenseman Andrei Zyuzin left in the second period
with a right eye injury after accidentally being hit by a stick. A
team spokesman said Zyuzin reported no problems with his vision. He
needed two stitches to close a cut and X-rays were negative.
Tampa Bay defenseman Petr Svoboda also re-aggravated a hip
flexor injury in the second period.
Game notes
The Islanders recalled C Jesse Belanger from Chicago of the
IHL. ... Tampa Bay claimed D Maxim Galanov off waivers from Florida
and sent D Ben Clymer to Detroit of the IHL. ... Lightning coach
Steve Ludzik said G Dan Cloutier, sidelined by biceps tendinitis,
will get a cortisone shot.
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
NY Islanders Clubhouse
Tampa Bay Clubhouse
RECAPS
Buffalo 5
Montreal 4
Chicago 6
Detroit 1
Tampa Bay 4
NY Islanders 3
Colorado 5
Carolina 3
Edmonton 3
Minnesota 0
Dallas 2
Phoenix 2
Pittsburgh 4
Vancouver 2
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Brad Isbister scores a power play goal on Kevin Weekes.
avi: 628 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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