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BOX SCORE
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Alexander Mogilny was once one of
the most feared shooters in the NHL. He is rekindling those
memories with the New Jersey Devils.
Mogilny scored his 15th career hat trick Thursday night as the
Devils beat the New York Islanders 4-2 and extended their unbeaten
streak to eight games.
The hat trick was Mogilny's first since December 12, 1996.
|  | | Islanders goaltender Wade Flaherty dives for the puck as teammate Branislav Mezei checks Turner Stevenson Thursday night. |
Mogilny was traded to the Devils last season for their run to
the Stanley Cup. This season he has seemed reluctant to take shots,
opting to pass rather than shoot.
"He's one of those guys that gets a lot of chances," said John
Madden, who also scored for the Devils. "Last year it seemed like
he was passing more and not taking the shots. Everybody told him to
shoot. Now he is."
Mogilny, with 18 goals, is on track for his best season since
1996-97 when he scored 31 for Vancouver. He professed to no know
when he last had a hat trick.
"I don't know about that," Mogilny said. "I don't count those
things. It's not important.
"I'm just feeling comfortable. I don't feel hot. I'm getting
chances and I'm going to go with it."
The Devils are 6-0-2 in the last eight and winners of 15 of
their last 22 (15-3-4).
Mark Parrish and Dave Scatchard scored for the Islanders who
lost their third straight. New York has one victory in its last
seven games (1-6-0).
Parrish scored past Martin Brodeur, 1:02 into the game, and
ended the Islanders' scoreless drought at 152:17. Parrish took an
elbow to the nose later in the period and did not return.
Mogilny scored the next two goals to give the Devils a 2-1 lead.
His breakaway goal with 1:46 left in the first period tied the game
at 1.
Mogilny scored a power-play goal at 2:35 of the second when he
bounced a shot off Islanders goalie John Vanbiesbrouck.
Madden gave the Devils a 3-1 lead at 10:43 of the second,
chasing Vanbiesbrouck, who was replaced by Wade Flaherty.
The decision did not sit well with Vanbiesbrouck.
"It's the coach's decision to do whatever he wants,"
Vanbiesbrouck said. "There's a lot of things that go into that
decision, I think. What can I do? Skate off the ice, humiliated."
In the third, Scatchard scored at 4:59 to cut the Devils' lead
to 3-2.
Mogilny ended New York's comeback attempt with his third goal at
11:35.
Game
notes
The Islanders send RW Juraj Kolnik to Springfield (AHL) and
D Evgeny Korolev to Louisville (AHL), and recalled D Anders Myrvold
from Springfield. ... Steve Martins, acquired by the Islanders
Thursday from the Tampa Bay Lighting for a conditional draft pick,
was named the IHL Player of the Week for Dec. 18-24. He had five
goals and seven points in three games with Detroit (IHL). Martins
had one goal and one assist in 20 games with Tampa Bay this season.
...The Devils have killed off 36 consecutive penalties. They last
allowed a power-play goal to Montreal on Dec. 15.
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NHL Scoreboard
NY Islanders Clubhouse
New Jersey Clubhouse
RECAPS
Ottawa 8
Tampa Bay 3
Detroit 4
Dallas 2
New Jersey 4
NY Islanders 2
Nashville 4
St. Louis 2
San Jose 2
Colorado 2
Phoenix 3
NY Rangers 1
Florida 4
Los Angeles 3
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