Islanders 4, Panthers 3 (SO)
Frans Nielsen and P.A. Parenteau scored shootout goals and Rick DiPietro stopped both shooters he faced as the New York Islanders halted their six-game road losing streak Saturday with a 4-3 triumph over the Florida Panthers.
Rookie Michael Grabner recorded a goal and an assist, Parenteau and Micheal Haley also scored and DiPietro made 29 saves in his first appearance since Feb. 2 for the Islanders, who are 1-1-2 on their five-game road trip and 5-1-4 in their last 10 overall.
DiPietro, who had been sidelined with facial injuries following a fight with Pittsburgh's Brent Johnson, stopped David Booth on a penalty shot with 28.9 seconds remaining in overtime. The former No. 1 pick then denied Mike Santorelli and Sergei Samsonov in the shootout while Nielsen and Parenteau each beat Scott Clemmensen, giving New York the victory.
Grabner put the Islanders in front at 5:14 of the second period, scoring while shorthanded for his 30th goal of the season. But rookie Evgeny Dadonov tallied twice later in the session to put Florida ahead.
New York took a 3-2 lead as Parenteau and Haley scored 2:41 apart midway through the third. Stephen Weiss drew the Panthers even with 6:34 remaining, ripping a one-timer from the top of the left faceoff circle past DiPietro for his 21st tally.
Samsonov notched two assists and Clemmensen stopped 18 shots for the Panthers, who concluded a 3-2-2 homestand.