Islanders 4, Devils 3
NEWARK, N.J. -- Matt Moulson scored in the sixth round of a shootout to give the New York Islanders a 4-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on Friday night.
Michael Grabner scored two goals for the Islanders and added an assist on Frans Nielsen's goal in the third period. Damien Brunner scored twice and Michael Ryder added another for the Devils, who fell to 0-1-1.
Evgeni Nabokov made 26 saves for the Islanders, who won a season-opening game for the first time in six years. Martin Brodeur stopped 23 shots for the Devils in his season debut.
After getting shut out in their season opener by the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night, the Devils wasted little time getting on the board against the Islanders.
Dainius Zubrus started the play by skating to the middle and snapping a quick shot that was stopped by Nabokov. The rebound caromed of Nabokov's catching glove and the crossbar before settling in the crease. Brunner fought through a check to tap home the rebound at 2:59 of the first period to put the Devils ahead 1-0.
Grabner answered about five minutes later with his first goal of the season, streaking past a flat-footed Adam Larsson near the blue line and stashing a shot under a sprawling Brodeur to pull the Islanders into a 1-1 tie.
Ryder and Grabner exchanged goals in the second period.
Nielsen gave the Islanders a brief lead with a goal 61 seconds into the third period, but Brunner's second goal of the game about seven minutes later knotted the score at 3.
NOTES: Devils forward Ryan Carter played in his 300th career game and Devils defenseman Peter Harrold played in his 200th career game. ... The Devils embark on a five-game, 10-day road trip that begins Monday. They will face the Oilers, Canucks, Flames, Jets and Senators on the all-Canadian trek and won't play their next home game until Oct. 19. ... Entering Friday, the Islanders' last win in a season-opening game came on Oct. 5, 2007, against the Sabres. Rick DiPietro was the winning goaltender in Buffalo. ... Islanders forward Brock Nelson made his NHL debut. He was 2 years old when teammate Evgeni Nabokov was drafted by the Sharks in June 1994.
