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Danis makes 39 saves to propel Islanders to victory; McLean scores first NHL goal

By Tom Liodice
 
Islanders goaltender Yann Danis turned aside 39 of 40 Anaheim shots, lifting the Islanders to a 2-1 victory over the Ducks Wednesday night at the Nassau Coliseum.

The win was Danis' first since the 2005-06 season, when he was with the Montreal Canadiens.

"He was excellent tonight," said Islanders Head Coach Scott Gordon. "One of the things I thought he did a great job with tonight was controlling rebounds. He battled and it was good to see."
 
Kyle Okposo put the Islanders on the board first with a powerplay-goal at the 2:38 mark of the first period. With Anaheim's Steve Montador in the penalty box serving a hooking minor, Okposo took a pass from the Islanders All-Star defenseman Mark Streit, and one-timed a slapshot past Ducks' goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere for his seventh goal of the season to give the Islanders a 1-0 lead.
 
Kurtis McLean scored his the first NHL goal of his career at the 14:35 mark of the first period to give the Isles a 2-0 lead. McLean, playing in his second NHL game, broke down the right wing, took a Frans Nielsen cross-ice pass, and one-timed it past Giguere to give the Islanders a two-goal lead.

"I'm not sure if he thinks he should have had it or not, but I think it should have went in," McLean joked after the game.

Nielsen had high praises for his new linemate.

"He's a great player," said Nielsen. "He makes smart decisions every time he gets the puck."
 
Anaheim made a goaltending change following McLean's goal, sending in Jonas Hiller to replace Giguere.

Danis held his own in net in the second period, despite the Islanders being outshot by Anaheim, 19-5.
 
Early in the second frame, with Anaheim on a power play, Danis stopped a close-up one-timer by a streaking Rob Niedermayer. Two minutes later, he stopped a similar one-timer by Corey Perry.
 
Anaheim came close again 13:13 into the second period while on the power play. With the Islanders serving a bench minor for too many men on the ice, Scott Niedermayer fired a snap-shot from the center hashmarks. Danis stopped the shot, but the puck slid behind him and hit the post. The Islanders goaltender fell back on the puck before the Ducks could slide the puck over the goal line.

Danis felt lucky that the bounces went his way this time.

"I think I was diving left and right a couple of times, and I got lucky with a couple of posts," said Danis. "Overall I thought I battled hard tonight."
 
The Ducks scored their only game in the second period with Jon Sim sitting in the penalty box for interference. A streaking Bobby Ryan deflected a Perry centering pass over Danis' shoulder, to cut the Islanders lead to 2-1 at the 16:45 mark of the second period. 

But that would be as close as Anaheim would get.
 
Three Stars of the Game:
1. Yann Danis: 39 saves for first win of the season
2. Kurtis McLean: First NHL goal
3. Bruno Gervais: 25:46 ice time, 5 hits

The Modells Amateur Hockey Award winner Kevin McAdams

Slapshots: Anaheim outshot the Islanders, 40-14...Okposo and Tim Jackman shared the team lead with two shots each...The Islanders went the first 15:00 in the third period without a shot...Mark Streit led all Islanders with 26:14 of ice time...Despite being outsized by a much bigger Ducks team, the Isles continued to out-hit their opponents, besting Anaheim in the hits category, 28-20, with Brendan Witt and Bruno Gervais sharing the Islanders lead with five hits...Sean Bergenheim (strained side) and Chris Campoli (groin) were the Islanders scratches...Anaheim defenseman Brendan Mikkelson's father, Bill Mikkelson, is an original member of the 1972-73 Islanders. He was in attendance on Wednesday night to watch his son skate on the same ice he played on more than 35 years ago...Doug Weight celebrated his 38th birthday Wednesday...The Modells Amateur Hockey Award winner is Kevin McAdams...Attendance was 11,853

 
ISLANDERS
Goaltenders
34 Yann Danis
1  Peter Mannino

Defensemen
32 Brendan Witt - 24 Radek Martinek
8  Bruno Gervais - 2 Mark Streit
38 Jack Hillen - 17 Thomas Pock

Forwards
13 Bill Guerin 12 - Josh Bailey - 10 Richard Park
57 Blake Comeau - 89 Mike Comrie - 21 Kyle Okposo
15 Jeff Tambellini - 51 Frans Nielsen - 54 Kurtis McLean
16 Jon Sim - 45 Nate Thompson - 28 Tim Jackman
 
ANAHEIM DUCKS
Goaltenders
35 Jean-Sebastien Giguere
1  Jonas Hiller

Defensemen
25 Chris Pronger - 60 Brendan Mikkelson
27 Scott Niedermayer - 53 Brett Festerling
5  Steve Montador - 3 Bret Hedican

Forwards
14 Chris Kunitz – 15 Ryan Getzlaf – 10 Corey Perry
 7 Brendan Morrison – 7 Brendan Morrison – 54 Bobby Ryan
 50 Troy Bodie – 20 Ryan Carter – 32 Travis Moen
 48 Andrew Ebbett – 26 Samuel Pahlsson – 18 Drew Miller