It didn't take long for Kyle Okposo to make his presence felt on Long Island. In just his second NHL game, the highly touted rookie registered his first NHL assist and his first NHL goal to help lead the Islanders past the Devils 3-1 at the Rock in Newark. Bryan Berard had two assists for the Islanders while goalie Wade Dubielewicz made 34 saves, many of them spectacular, to earn the win. The Isles snapped a six-game losing streak while the loss prevented the Devils from moving past the Penguins into sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Division.

Okposo's goal came with just 2:35 left in the third period and the game tied 1-1. Richard Park set up the rookie for a one-timer from just outside the hash marks while the Isles were on a power play. His shot beat New Jersey goalie, Martin Brodeur to put the Islanders ahead to stay.

“He’s a great goalie and I grew up watching him,” Okposo said. “It felt great to get that first goal in my second game. I got cross-checked and all of sudden, here comes the puck. Parkie gave me a great pass, and I had to knock it in.”

Islanders' coach Ted Nolan was also pleased with the play of his rookie. "I like the way he quick released," Nolan said when asked about Okposo's tally. "He scored his first goal against one of the best goaltenders in the history of the game. For him to score his first goal against Broduer, it's a good sign for him. I think the first game he was nervous and the second game he felt much more comfortable. He started doing some more good things with the puck. He was a little more patient. It was a good night for him."

The good night started early. Okposo's pass from behind the net to Blake Comeau set up the Islanders' first goal just 4:46 into the contest. omeau beat Brodeur with a wrist shot from the left circle and it was 1-0 Islanders.

New Jersey evened the score on the power play with 6:14 remaining in the first period. Travis Zajac poked home the rebound of a Brian Gionta shot and the game was tied, 1-1.

In the second period, the Devils appeared to take the lead on a power play goal by Sergei Brylin, but the goal was disallowed after replays showed the net was off its moorings when the puck went in. Radek Martinek was pushed into the net during a scramble in front which caused it to dislodge.

Almost overlooked in the hoopla surrounding Okposo's first NHL goal was the strong play of Islander goalie, Wade Dubielewicz. "Dubie" kept the game tied at 1-1 despite the fact that the Islanders were outshot 35-16. He was also key when the Isles were shorthanded, holding New Jersey to the one goal on eight chances with the extra man.

“Dubie was just great,” remarked Isles' captain, Bill Guerin. “It was good to pull out a win for him. We haven’t played that well for him. We’re really into it and we showed that we still care and have pride.”

Trent Hunter added an empty-net goal with just 18.8 seconds left to ice the win for the Islanders.

The game was physical and even got chippy in the second and third periods. There were three fights including one between Guerin and New Jersey's David Clarkson in the second period. Ex-Islander Aron Asham tangled with rookie Matthew Spiller early in the third period while Josef Vasicek and Rod Pelley went at it with just nine seconds left on the clock. The Islanders held their own both on the ice and in the alley to earn the victory.

“It’s big for us,” said Dubielewicz. “We have a lot of young guys out there now and we want to finish the season on a positive note.”

"It feels good to get the win," said Nolan, who called out his veteran players after what he saw as a lackluster performance Tuesday night against the Leafs. "The effort was there. You got to see a lot of the young kids. Blake Comeau came up big for us again. Dubielewicz battled for us again. It was a good night for those guys."

The Isles next game will be Sunday night in Philadelphia.

NOTES: The Islanders are now 6-1-0 against the Devils this season despite the fact that they are 18 points behind New Jersey in the standings... Guerin played in his 1,100th career NHL game... Kevin Weekes replaced Martin Brodeur in the second period when Brodeur needed to make equipment repairs. Weekes played for 2:22 and stopped the only shot he faced... The 16 shots on goal was the Isles' lowest total of the season.