Four in a row!

Don't look now, be we got us a little streak here.

Yann Danis again took a shutout into the third period but the Islanders shut the door on the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-1 last night.

All it took was a little over three minutes of playing time in the second period for the Isles to score their three goals.

Trent Hunter scored his 13th at 6:27 on a tip-in from Frans Nielsen and Kyle Okposo. Since coming back from the lacerated finger, Hunter has been fantastic. For that matter, Nielsen has been playing very well since he came back from that hit to the head from Mike Mottau. I was worried about the young guy's fearlessness evaporating after the hit because before it happened, Nielsen was playing like he was seeing the ice very well and he was really becoming a playmaking catalyst out there. Since he's been back, it's like he picked up his bike and started riding again.

Just over two minutes later, the Isles struck out to a two-goal lead when The Streiter tipped in a pass from Doug Weight at 8:29. I don't mean to talk like Yoda but a bargain, Streit is. He's been everything and more for the Isles this year. Great job by the Islanders pro scouts.

I've often thought that Radek Martinek scores, good things happen. That's not only because I admired Radek's steady influence on the blue line, but because he doesn't score all that often. But last night, Martinek ripped a slapper for his first of the year at 9:52. Park and Witt with the assists.

The team also continues to get strong contributions from guys like Tim Jackman, who fought Vincent Lecavalier and took the Lightning's best player off the ice with him for five minutes. It seems like such a little thing, but stopped a guy like Lecavalier is difficult enough. And really, Vincent should be smarter than to allow himself to be goaded into a fight when his team is struggling for offense. Great move by Jackman, who has really developed into a player that coach Scott Gordon can put into most any situation because he knows Jackman will give maximum effort.

The player of the night was definitely Yann Danis. The guy often scares the heck out of me with his rebound control but over the past few games, he has been much improved. Danis has done exactly what Joey MacDonald has done this season as he has been able to keep the Islanders in most games. MacDonald served as Danis' back-up last night so you have to figure that Joey will be back between the pipes Thursday in Florida when the Isles visit the Panthers.

Jonathan Sim and Jeff Tambellini were the healthy scratches for the Islanders. Maybe it's time for Jeff to get off the pot. He's been given plenty of chances and with the kids starting to come together, perhaps the best thing to do would be to ship Tambellini out west and get a pick for the guy as he tries to get himself on track.