Rick DiPietro stopped 28 shots for his third consecutive shutout at home, and the Islanders got goals from Arron Asham and Jason Blake in a 2–0 victory over the slumping Rangers last night.

DiPietro extended his home shutout streak to 185:43 in his 10th career shutout and fourth this season. The last goal he allowed at Nassau Coliseum came with 43 seconds left in regulation of a 2–1 shootout win against Florida on December 9.

The Islanders moved one point ahead of the Rangers, just behind the Atlantic Division-leading New Jersey Devils. The Islanders also have three games in hand on the Rangers, who have lost six straight overall following a five-game winning streak.

The Islanders improved to 3–0 against their crosstown rivals this month. The last time they won three consecutive regular-season games in one season against the Rangers was in 1997–98.

Henrik Lundqvist was strong in goal for the Rangers, turning aside 36 shots.

The Islanders came out hitting and took six of the first seven shots in the scoreless first period, which featured 7:05 of uninterrupted action.

The Rangers had a great opportunity to take the lead at 7:40 when Adam Hall had DiPietro down as he crossed the net from left to right, but the goalie stuck out his left pad and just got a piece of the puck on Hall’s shot.

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DEVILS 3, PENGUINS 0

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Martin Brodeur made 26 saves for his 85th career shutout and the Devils beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3–0 last night.

Travis Zajac scored early in the second period, and Jay Pandolfo and Brian Gionta added insurance goals late in the third.

Brodeur earned his fifth shutout this season and moved into sole possession of third place on the career list, one ahead of Glenn Hall.

The win was only the third in eight games for the Atlantic Division-leading Devils, who ended a three-game losing streak on home ice.