Islanders 1, Devils 0
NEWARK, N.J. -- Goaltender Jaroslav Halak made 27 saves to record his third shutout of the season in leading the New York Islanders to a 1-0 win over the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on Friday night.
The shutout was the 39th in Halak's career, and his third in 17 games against the Devils.
Center Casey Cizikas scored New York's lone goal.
With the win, the Islanders improved to 31-19-7. New York has won two of three, and three of its last five.
While the Islanders solidified their hold on third place in the Metropolitan Division, New Jersey's tenuous playoff hopes took a blow with its second straight regulation loss.
Goaltender Cory Schneider stopped 23 of 24 shots. But it was one fluky shot that the Devils netminder would want back.
At the end of an evenly played first period, the Islanders enjoyed a 1-0 lead thanks to Cizikas, who literally knocked in his sixth goal of the year 1:59 into the game.
The sequence began with defenseman Nick Leddy leading an up-ice rush before firing a shot that Schneider could not control. The puck ricocheted off of Schneider and, then, Cizikas' knee before settling in the net behind the New Jersey netminder.
New York held its slim advantage for the remainder of the game.
The best extended chance either team had to score came late in the second period as the Islanders were awarded a five-minute power play after New Jersey right winger Jordin Tootoo was assessed a major and game misconduct for cross-checking New York defenseman Johnny Boychuk. Boychuk went headfirst into the end boards and, after laying prone on the ice, made his way to the visiting dressing room. Boychuk returned to the game prior to the start of the third period.
New York only generated one shot on the five-minute man advantage. The Islanders finished the game 0-for-3 in nine minutes of power-play time, with two shots. New Jersey did not generate a shot on its only power play.
New Jersey marginally outshot the Islanders, 27-24, in the tight-checking affair, but New York out-attempted the Devils, 46-45.
NOTES: New Jersey placed LW Stefan Matteau on the injured reserve, retroactive to Feb. 12, with facial fractures. The Devils also announced the activation of D Jon Merrill from the IR. Merrill, 24, missed 12 games with an upper-body injury. ... New Jersey scratched D Eric Gelinas, D Damon Severson and LW Tuomo Ruutu. ... Islanders G Jean-Francois Berube, D Calvin de Haan and RW Steve Bernier were scratched. ... With the NHL trade deadline in 10 days, scouts from Columbus, Dallas, Montreal, Philadelphia and St. Louis were listed on the Prudential Center press box seating list.