Roberto Luongo's presence in the opposing goal Monday provided Islanders fans another reason to lament their not so recent past.

Out-of-nowhere goalie Joey MacDonald then gave them another reason to think favorably about what figured to be a forgettable present with a memorable 2-1 shootout win over the Canucks and Luongo, a former first-round pick of the Islanders.

MacDonald's rise from minor-league journeyman to dependable backup to counted-on injury fill-in continues progressing in starter Rick DiPietro's absence following left knee surgery. The Isles are 5-2-1 in the last eight games, all started by MacDonald, who has a 2.20 goals-against average over that span.

"When you come in and play one or two games a year in the NHL, it's tough because the different...

All eyes were on former New York Islanders goalie Roberto Luongo. All the cheering and name chanting rained down on the new guy -- backup Joey MacDonald. After all, he was the one who came up big at the end Monday night. Luongo made 34 saves against the team that let him get away eight years ago, but couldn't stop Frans Nielsen in a shootout as the Islanders beat the Vancouver Canucks 2-1 for their...

The New York Islanders are learning how to hold on to a third-period lead. Jon Sim had a goal and assist, Joey MacDonald stopped 38 shots and the Islanders beat the Ottawa Senators for the second straight game, 3-2 on Saturday night. "We're not the only team in the league that has blown a third-period lead," Islanders coach Scott Gordon said.

Josh Bailey and Kyle Okposo -- a couple of key first-round draft picks -- sparked the New York Islanders' struggling power play and helped the team to a much-needed win. Okposo and Trent Hunter scored power-play goals, and Joey MacDonald made 29 saves to lead the Islanders to a 3-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night.

The end of the Philadelphia Flyers' three-game losing streak might prove to be the least significant development in their win over the New York Islanders. The talk after the 3-1 victory Tuesday revolved around two big problems: the latest injury to star center Danny Briere and the benching of fellow forward Scott Hartnell by coach John Stevens for the entire third period.

The New York Islanders have a knack for blowing third-period leads. Against Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins, they were fortunate to escape with a point. Petr Sykora scored the only goal in the shootout to give the Penguins a come-from-behind 4-3 victory over the Islanders on Saturday night. "It's terrible," New York defenseman Andy Sutton said.