Okposo nets two as Isles top Thrashers
New York Islanders right wing Kyle Okposo (21) celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal in the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Atlanta Thrashers in Atlanta. (Feb. 1, 2011) Credit: AP
ATLANTA - Heading into the NHL's four-day All-Star break, Jack Capuano delivered a simple message to the Islanders:
Enjoy the time off, but when you return, it's back to work.
The coach did not want any member of his struggling squad to forget that jobs were on the line, playing time was to be earned and wins desperately were needed.
Kyle Okposo certainly got that message. After missing the first 45 games of the season with a torn labrum in his right shoulder, Okposo tallied his first two goals of the season and added an assist to boost the Islanders to a 4-1 win over the Thrashers at Philips Arena Tuesday night.
Goaltender Kevin Poulin was stellar in his eighth NHL game, making 25 saves.
After four days to reflect on their shortcomings in the first 49 games - a 14-game winless streak, a coaching change and several devastating injuries - the Islanders erased a 1-0 Thrashers lead with four unanswered goals.
PA Parenteau had his 13th goal and an assist and John Tavares chipped in with two assists to give him a team-leading 38 points.
At first, it looked as if the Islanders were headed for the same fate that has relegated them to the bottom of the league's standings. For the 12th time in 13 games, they gave up the first goal. Former Islanders defenseman Freddy Meyer scored his first goal of the season to give the Thrashers a 1-0 lead at 14:31 of the first.
Meyer's skate connected with a fluttering puck behind the net and - with the help of Travis Hamonic's stick - caromed off the back of Poulin's right leg. The goal was reviewed to discern whether Meyer made a "distinct kicking motion" but was upheld.
"I think it was good. We didn't get down,'' Okposo said of falling behind. "We didn't have any feeling of doubt after that first goal.''
Trailing 1-0 in the second period, the Islanders scored three straight with goals from Hamonic, Okposo and Parenteau.
Hamonic's blast, which appeared to deflect in off a Thrashers defenseman's stick, beat goaltender Ondrej Pavelec to tie the score at 5:23 and give the 20-year-old his first NHL goal.
Okposo notched his first of the season in the second period. After a bouncing puck was batted out of the air, Okposo slid the puck past Pavelec's left leg for the go-ahead score at 16:39.
"It was nice to get that first one out of the way,'' Okposo said. "It was a little bit of a weight lifted off my shoulders, but I've been feeling better and better every game.''
Parenteau then sizzled a shot through Brent Sopel's legs from the left circle to score on the team's first power play of the game at 17:39.
Okposo's second goal came after Michael Grabner made a beautiful pass to him on a two-on-one at 11:19 of the third.
"It was awesome,'' Okposo said of Grabner's pass. "I wasn't expecting it, but once he faked that shot, I thought it might be coming. It was a sick read. I really didn't have to do anything.''
More Islanders
