Devils 1, Islanders 0
Petr Sykora scored his fifth goal and Johan Hedberg made 23 saves en route to his second shutout as the visiting New Jersey Devils edged the New York Islanders 1-0 on Friday.
Adam Larsson and Adam Henrique recorded assists for the Devils, who will host the Islanders in the back end of a home-and-home set on Saturday.
New York has lost four straight and 14 of its last 16. The Islanders have been shut out three times in their last four games.
Hedberg got the nod over Martin Brodeur and got plenty of help from his blue line, which killed off four penalties. Hedberg made a pair of clutch saves when New York pulled goaltender Al Montoya at the end and finished with his 19th career clean sheet.
With 23 seconds left on a power play in the second period, Larsson ripped a shot from the blue line that Montoya blocked. The rebound skipped straight back out into the slot to Sykora, who one-timed it back over Montoya’s right shoulder.
Montoya finished with 22 saves for the Islanders.