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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) -- Fred Brathwaite made the new-look New
York Islanders look just like they used to.
Fred Brathwaite stopped 25 shots for his seventh career shutout,
and Cory Stillman had a goal and assist as the Calgary Flames
blanked the Islanders 2-0 on Saturday night.
"Our guys played well," Brathwaite said. "Unlike our first
three games where we had stretches where we didn't play well, we
played the full 60 minutes tonight."
The Islanders (0-2-1), who had eight new players make their home
debut, didn't get a shot on goal for the first 11 minutes of the
game. Except for Roman Hamrlik's power-play shot that hit the post,
New York didn't record a shot until Mariusz Czerkawski sent an easy
wrister towards Brathwaite at 11:02. By then, Calgary (1-3-0) had a
1-0 lead.
Dave Lowry finished off a flurry of four shots in less than 10
seconds by flipping a backhand rebound over John Vanbiesbrouck at
9:19.
"We knew they came in here 0-3 and were desperate,"
Vanbiesbrouck said. "They were more desperate, and I don't know
why."
Stillman added to the Flames' lead after a 2-on-1 break when
Hamrlik fell down at center ice. Valeri Bure carried the puck down
the right side, and both Vanbiesbrouck and defenseman Kenny Jonsson
focused on him. That left Stillman alone on the left side, and he
one-timed Bure's pass off the left post and in.
"That was a tough break," Hamrlik said. "My skate hit
another, and I just went down."
New York outshot the Flames 12-1 in the final period, but
Brathwaite was not severely tested.
"My guys let me see the shots, which makes my job easier,"
Brathwaite said. "There weren't many rebounds. It's nice that we
started this road trip on the right note."
Jonsson said the loss was more the Islanders' own doing.
"I think we were seeing what they could do, rather than go out
and dictate the game," Jonsson said. "I think it was more what we
didn't do than what they did."
The Islanders' power play continued to struggle. Scoreless on
eight opportunities, New York is now 0-for-20 in three games.
"Maybe we're squeezing our sticks a bit, and nothing's come
out," Czerkawski said.
Islanders coach Butch Goring noted that the coaches are just as
frustrated as the players with the slow start.
"You know the old cliche of working hard and getting the
bounces," Goring said. "Well, we're working hard, but the bounces
are not working for us right now."
Game notes
The Islanders were the last team to stage a home opener.
... The crowd of 16,297 was the first home sellout for the
Islanders since 1997, when deposed owner John Spano had control of
the team. The Islanders shut out Toronto 3-0 in that game.
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
Calgary Clubhouse
NY Islanders Clubhouse
RECAPS
Montreal 5
Chicago 4
Calgary 2
NY Islanders 0
Ottawa 4
Toronto 0
New Jersey 4
Anaheim 2
Pittsburgh 8
NY Rangers 6
Dallas 3
Washington 0
Nashville 2
Carolina 1
Colorado 3
Columbus 1
Phoenix 6
Philadelphia 3
Vancouver 4
Buffalo 0
San Jose 5
Boston 2
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