Islanders 3, Red Wings 0
DETROIT -- Evgeni Nabokov made 23 saves for his 56th career shutout and the New York Islanders beat the Detroit Red wings 3-0 on Monday night at Joe Louis Arena.
Right winger Kyle Okposo, right winger Michael Grabner, center Casey Cizikas scored for the Islanders (11-20-7), who have the NHL's third-worst record. It was only the Islanders' third win in their last 17 (3-10-4).
Petr Mrazek stopped 16 shots for Detroit (17-13-9).
The Islanders led 3-0 after the first period.
Okposo opened the scoring with 9:03 left in the opening period when he put a cross-crease pass into the empty-side of the net off the rush for his 12th goal. Grabner got his fifth goal, with 4:53 remaining in the first, when his shot from the left circle deflected off the stick of Detroit defenseman Brendan Smith. Cizikas made it 3-0, with 3:05 left in the first period, when he put in a one-time shot from in front of the net. It was Cizikas' fourth goal.
Islanders center John Tavares hit the goal post less than 30 seconds into the second period.
Red Wings defenseman Jonathan Ericsson went to the locker room during the second period with an upper-body injury and did not return. Detroit right winger Todd Bertuzzi limped to the locker room holding his left leg late in the second period after being hit with a shot from teammate and defenseman Kyle Quincey, but returned to start the third period.
Detroit right winger Patrick Eaves hit the crossbar about five minutes into the third period and right winger Gustav Nyquist hit the goal post a little more than a minute later.
NOTES: Petr Mrazek started in goal for Detroit after Jonas Gustavsson came down with a tender groin and sat out as a precaution. ... The Islanders played at Joe Louis Arena for the first time since Dec. 31, 2010. ... Red Wings RW Gustav Nyquist returned after missing three games with a groin injury. ... New York LW Matt Martin is from Windsor, Ontario, which is across the Detroit River from Detroit. ... Detroit C Stephen Weiss underwent successful sports hernia surgery in Philadelphia on Monday morning. He is expected to miss six to eight weeks, and the Red Wings are shooting for him to be back after the Olympic break, which ends Feb. 26. ... A power outage in downtown Detroit forced the Red Wings to have their pregame skate Monday morning in a partially lighted Joe Louis Arena.
