Islanders' Backup Dubielewicz Stops Rangers in Shootout

By Associated Press | March 5, 2008

Jeff Tambellini scored in the sixth shootout, and the Islanders overcame another short-handed goal to beat the New York Rangers 4–3 last night.

Wade Dubielewicz, subbing for the second straight game for Rick DiPietro, made 27 saves through overtime and then turned aside five shooters in the tiebreaker. DiPietro was away from the team following the death of his grandmother, and is expected to return to practice Wednesday.

Dubielewicz is 2–0 in NHL shootouts, building off his win at New Jersey on the final day of last season to clinch a playoff spot for the Islanders when DiPietro was injured.

Rangers forward Nigel Dawes and Islanders captain Bill Guerin were the only others to score in the shootout.

Blake Comeau, Sean Bergenheim, and Trent Hunter had goals in regulation for the Islanders, who shook off Ryan Callahan's short-handed goal in the third period and won for the second time in six games (2-4).

Dawes and Chris Drury had the other goals for the Rangers, 7–0–3 in their last 10.