Islanders 2, Penguins 1 (Shootout): DP! DP! DP!

Photo Credit: Isles Official Website

After being defeated 7-2 at the Garden Monday night, the Islanders bounced back and won 2-1 in the skills competition against the Pittsburgh Penguins and Sidney Crosby Wednesday night. There's no one better then Rick DiPietro to get the job done.

Bailey opened up scoring for the Islanders - and the game, actually. He picked up a rebound off of Fleury and fired home for his third goal in five games since being called up from his stint with the Sound Tigers, the Islanders AHL affiliate.

At 16:33 of the second period, the Penguins tied it up with Chris Connor lighting the lamp. No one would score for the remainder of the period and the Isles would go into the second intermission all tied up at one.

 The Penguins were awarded a penalty shot in the third period. Apparently Gervais covered the puck in the crease but before anyone could fear a goal, DiPietro came up big with a glove save on Letang. I'm sure that gained his confidence back, if it wasn't already gained.

No team would score and the game would go to OT. With 25.7 left, a scrum broke out in front of DiPietro's net with DP involved. Kunitz was called for goaltender interference, and Nielsen was given a penalty as well.

It would go to a shootout to decide the final score. First up for the Isles was Rob Schremp, who put a series of moves on Fleury and lit the lamp. Letang tied it up, though. Nielsen was the next Islander up and backhanded one past Fleury giving the Isles a lead.

It would stay 2-1 Islanders after Crosby was denied by DiPietro. John Tavares failed to get one past Fleury and the shootout continued on. Though Malkin put one past Rick DiPietro on his turn, Parenteau scored and DiPietro stopped the next shot to win the game. DiPietro darted out of his crease and jumped on 210 pounder Matt Martin.

It was a great win for the Islanders, who now hold a 10-19-6 record. They're still in the playoff picture, in my opinion. They're only nine games under the NHL's version of .500, and can very well still compete for the eighth seed, especially with Okposo coming back in early January.