SB Nation New York - Islanders 4, Thrashers 1: Okposo Scores First Two Goalshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48977/ny-fave.png2011-02-02T11:26:37-05:00http://newyork.sbnation.com/rss/stream/17343662011-02-02T11:26:37-05:002011-02-02T11:26:37-05:00Islanders 4, Thrashers 1: Okposo Scores First Two Goals
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<p>Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nhl/players/54146/kyle-okposo">Kyle Okposo</a> scored his first two goals of the season and added an assist, as the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nhl/teams/new-york-islanders">New York Islanders</a> returned from the All- Star break and earned a 4-1 victory over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nhl/teams/atlanta-thrashers">Atlanta Thrashers</a> at Philips Arena.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nhl/players/54205/p-a-parenteau">P.A. Parenteau</a> registered a goal and an assist, while <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nhl/players/88682/travis-hamonic">Travis Hamonic</a> tallied his first career NHL goal for the Islanders, who snapped a three-game slide and won for only the third time in their last 11 overall.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nhl/players/88686/kevin-poulin">Kevin Poulin</a> turned aside 25-of-26 shots to pick up the win.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nhl/players/54165/freddy-meyer">Freddy Meyer</a> accounted for the lone goal for Atlanta, which has dropped eight of its last 10 contests. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nhl/players/54862/ondrej-pavelec">Ondrej Pavelec</a>, playing in his 100th NHL contest, made 29 saves in defeat.</p>
<p>"We spent too much time in our zone tonight," Pavelec said. "They came in and played a hard game and won the battles and the game. We have to find a way to win these games and protect our building."</p>
<p>Atlanta opened the scoring with 5:29 left in the first on a fluke goal. Poulin stopped Meyer's shot from a severe angle, but the puck went off the stick of Hamonic, who stood behind the net, and deflected off Poulin's pad before going in.</p>
<p>Hamonic then pulled the Islanders even at 5:23 of the second, when his shot from the point hit a Thrasher in front and got by Pavelec.</p>
<p>The Islanders took control late in the stanza by striking for a pair of goals one minute apart.</p>
<p>First, Okposo put home a rebound from the low slot with 3:21 remaining after some sustained pressure on the Thrashers' net.</p>
<p>Then, with the Islanders skating on the power play, Parenteau's wrister from the left circle beat Pavelec on the stick side with 2:21 to go, and New York took the 3-1 lead into the intermission.</p>
<p>"I think we just settled down and found our legs, and we really wanted to take it to them," Okposo said. "We're trying to come in here with a new attitude after the break and thought we played pretty well."</p>
<p>Okposo finished a 2-on-1 with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nhl/players/54484/michael-grabner">Michael Grabner</a> at 11:19 of the third to give the Islanders a three-goal cushion, and they played a solid defensive game from there.</p>
<p>Atlanta forward <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nhl/players/71959/evander-kane">Evander Kane</a> returned to the lineup after missing the last four games with a lower-body injury...The Islanders improved to 8-15-3 on the road this season, while Atlanta fell to 12-10-5 as the host.</p>
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<th class="td-left"> <span>Final - 2.1.2011 </span> </th> <th>1</th> <th>2</th> <th>3</th> <th>Total</th>
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<td class="td-name"><span class="win"> <a href="https://www.lighthousehockey.com/">New York Islanders</a> </span></td>
<td>0</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>1</td>
<td class="highlight">4</td>
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<td class="td-name"><span class="loss"> <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/atlanta-thrashers">Atlanta Thrashers</a> </span></td>
<td>1</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td class="highlight">1</td>
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https://newyork.sbnation.com/2011/2/2/2329054/islanders-4-thrashers-1-okposo-scores-first-two-goalsEd Valentine