Okposo goes 1 and 1 as the Islanders stop six-game skid

Well, now the hype machine can stop and get a fresh for a little bit. Islanders top prospect Kyle Okposo scored his first NHL goal last night as the Isles beat the Devils in Newark, 3-1.

The Islanders riddle has been difficult for the Devils this year. The win puts the Isles' record at 6-1 on the season. The Devils are in a dead-even tie with the Penguins for second in the Eastern Conference; one point behind the leaders, Montreal. If the Devils even split the season series with the Isles, you'd think that they'd be running away with the Eastern Conference crown.

The Isles were paced by Wade Dubielewicz, who made 34 saves, to raise his record to 3-0 against New Jersey. Dubielewicz made many acrobatic stops in the final period when his net was under siege.

The Islanders goals were scored by Blake Comeau (who has certainly seen his stock rise this season with the team), Okposo, and Trent Hunter, who added a late empty-netter to seal the game.

Clearly, the story of the game was Okposo. At a time when the team and it's fans could use some good news, Okposo has been a bright spot in his first two NHL games. He hasn't looked out of place, has cycled well, and has received praise from his coaches and teammates. He doesn't seem afraid to use his body to improve his positioning and always is ready to head to the net. These are all great attributes in a young player.