Islanders Team Report from Yahoo! Sports

Inside Shots

After the Islanders’ current western swing takes them through Edmonton on Monday, they will have played 41 games this season.

They most certainly will view the second half more as a young squad having half of the season remaining to build for the future, rather than a lottery-bound team knowing another lost year is at least half over.

Despite only two wins in their past 19 games (2-15-2), the Isles’ youth movement finally has shown some individual results in recent weeks. Lost amid the hoopla of veteran center Doug Weight recording the 1,000th NHL point late Friday night in Phoenix, rookie center Josh Bailey finally buried his first career goal earlier in the game, his 25th with the Isles.

“It was a long time coming. He probably should have had it earlier, but you know what? He deserved it (Friday) because I thought he had several opportunities,” coach Scott Gordon said of Bailey, the ninth overall pick in the 2008 entry draft. “One of the things we’ve talked to him about getting better at is his skating, moving without the puck.

“He’s been pretty good skating with the puck, but it’s moving and improving his position. I think that’s why he had more chances than he’s had in some time. He had some great chances in the slot area. You know he’s going to make plays, but it’s what he does after the play to get himself into scoring position.”

Sharks 5, Islanders 3: There were few surprises in a game pitting two teams at opposite ends of the NHL standings, at least until the closing minutes. Just when the dead-last Islanders appeared they’d be fully devoured by the league-leading Sharks, Scott Gordon’s team scored twice in the final 3:10 of the third period before eventually dropping their 12th consecutive road game (0-11-1) since Nov. 24.

San Jose held a whopping 46-21 shot advantage in carrying a 4-1 lead late in the third period. Unlikely goals by enforcer Tim Jackman (shorthanded) and defenseman Thomas Pock (first of the season) drew the Isles within one with 1:03 remaining, but Patrick Marleau sealed it with an empty-netter to keep San Jose undefeated (19-0-2) in regulation at home.

Isles goalie Joey MacDonald (career-high 42 saves) earlier had made several acrobatic stops in place of resting starter Rick DiPietro to keep the Isles close enough to attempt what turned out to be a futile comeback.

Notes, Quotes

• RW Kyle Okposo, a centerpiece of the Islanders’ current rebuilding program, got off to a slow start in his first full NHL season but had a career-high five-game point scoring streak before it was snapped Saturday at San Jose. He credits a conversation he had with coach Scott Gordon earlier this season, while the power forward was sidelined by a wrist injury.

“After that conversation, I came to the realization that I was lost and I wasn’t playing the way I used to,” Okposo told the New York Post. “I needed to get back to doing what I did to get me here. It lit something in me.”

• LW Trevor Smith, a former collegiate free agent signing, is another rookie getting a chance to prove he belongs in the NHL; he made his third appearance Saturday since making his league debut earlier in the week. Smith had a team-high 18 goals in 33 games for AHL Bridgeport this season while playing the same aggressive system in the minors that coach Scott Gordon employs with the Isles.

“I think I’ve got to prove I can play within the system,” Smith told Newsday. “I’ve had a couple of breakdowns in my positional play. I talked to coach Gordon about that. There’s a couple little things I’ve got to tweak. You’ve got to be faster in some different spots and play your position.”

Quote To Note: “It was good to get some live action. It’s nice I didn’t hurt anything.”—Goalie Rick DiPietro, who didn’t play Saturday as a precaution after returning to the lineup Friday in Phoenix, only his second appearance in 31 games because of knee and groin injuries.

Player Notes:

• RW Richard Park, who also scored twice Friday in Phoenix, made it six goals in his past 11 appearances with a goal and two assists in a 5-3 loss Saturday in San Jose.

• C Doug Weight, one night after becoming the 73rd NHL player to reach 1,000 career points, was held off the scoresheet but dropped the gloves with Christian Ehrhoff in a rare fight for the Isles veteran.

• D Mark Streit, who began the day tied for the NHL lead in points among defensemen (31), extended his current scoring streak to five straight games with an assist on RW Richard Park’s goal.

Medical Watch:

• C Mike Sillinger, who has appeared in just seven games since undergoing season-ending hip surgery last February, is out indefinitely again after suffering another hip injury Dec. 29 against the Rangers.

• LW Andy Hilbert suffered a hairline fracture in his left foot Dec. 26 against Toronto and is expected to miss 2-to-4 weeks.

• D Andy Sutton suffered a broken right foot on a blocked shot Dec. 19 in Minnesota. He is expected to miss at least 6-to-8 weeks.

• D Radek Martinek, who’s been limited to 10 appearances this season, has resumed practicing but has been sidelined since Nov. 29 with a shoulder injury.

• C Frans Nielsen also has been practicing with the team but hasn’t played since suffering multiple leg injuries Nov. 21 in New Jersey.

• C Nate Thompson missed his 10th straight game since suffering a fractured ankle Dec. 13.