Edmonton, AB (Sports Network) – Devan Dubnyk halted 30 shots as Edmonton snapped a seven-game skid with a 2-1 decision over the New York Islanders at Rexall Place.
Gilbert Brule and Dustin Penner notched first-period scores for the Oilers, who hadn’t seen the win column since a December 16 victory against Columbus.
Blake Comeau netted the lone tally for the Islanders, who saw their three-game win streak stopped in the start of a four-game road trip.
Nathan Lawson was pulled after giving up both Oiler goals on just three shots in just over five minutes of action. Kevin Poulin spelled him for the remainder of the contest and registered 19 saves.
Brule tallied at the 3:22 mark of the first when he poked in the rebound of an Andrew Cogliano blast.
Penner’s short-handed tally at 5:17 gave the Oilers a quick two-goal edge. He was in flight along the left wing when he took a Cogliano feed, cut towards the slot and beat Lawson on the backhand.
Comeau put the Islanders on the board at the 13-minute mark of the second when he converted a Rob Schremp pass from in front, but that was all the visitors could muster.
Dubnyk made sure the one-goal margin stood during an eight-save third period.
Edmonton has won three of the last four meetings with New York since January, 2008…The Islanders scratched forward Frans Nielsen due to a groin injury and listed him as day-to-day…Oilers defenseman Jim Vandermeer suffered a leg injury late in the first period and did not return…The Isles fell to 0-12-2 this season when outshooting their opponent.