Joey MacDonald couldn't have expected to play too much this season as Rick DiPietro's backup. But with the Islanders' franchise goalie still nursing an injured knee, it was MacDonald who shined between the pipes for New York, making 24 saves in the Islanders' 5-2 win over the visiting St. Louis Blues Saturday night. Andy Hilbert, Doug Weight and Bruno Gervais each had two points for New York who won their home opener in front of a sellout crowd of 16,234.

Isles' coach Scott Gordon won his first NHL game and was given the game puck by captain Bill Guerin who wished him many more victories.

Gordon was very pleased with his team's effort as they took the play to the Blues almost immediately. "I think first and foremost our players played with more urgency," Gordon explained. "We talked about that before the game—playing with that urgency, stopping and starting, being relentless, and not letting them off the hook when they cut back on you. I thought that was pretty close to the efforts we had in the games that we won in the exhibition season."

The line of Richard Park, Kyle Okposo and Mike Comrie helped set the tone with an aggressive forecheck in the game's opening minutes. Comrie put the Islanders ahead 1-0 just 2:18 into the contest when he put home a rebound of a shot by Park from the left circle past Blues' goalie Chris Mason.

The Islanders dominated play in the opening stanza, outshooting St. Louis 15-6. Tim Hunter and Sean Bergenheim scored less than two minutes apart to increase the New York lead to 3-0 before Brad Boyes took a pretty pass from Paul Kariya and lifted the puck over MacDonald to cut the lead to 3-1. But the Islanders did not allow the Blues to gain momentum. With Bill Guerin in the penalty box for slashing, Andy Hilbert deflected home a shot by Mark Streit behind Mason with 46 seconds left in the period. The Isles had their three-goal lead back and maintained control of the game.

Both teams had chances to score in the second period but it was MacDonald who came through in the clutch for New York. He made his most spectacular saves of the game in the second period, first making a low glove save along the ice, snaring the puck in front of what appeared to be an empty net. Five minutes later, he stoned Keith Tkachuk on a breakaway with a quick move of his pads.

MacDonald was pleased with his team's play in front of him and indicated he was ready to play. "Last night after the game they told me there could be a chance so I prepared like I was going to play," MacDonald said. "That’s what I’ve got to do every game, even now when Ricky is playing I am going to be ready because you never know."

"I can't say enough about the job the coaches have done with him," Gordon said when asked about MacDonald's play. "Where he is today compared to where he was in Boston speaks volumes to what they've done with him. He's a hard worker and he deserves the opportunity he's getting."

A power play goal by Tkachuk at the 7:47 mark of the third period but the New York lead to 4-2, but MacDonald made 13 third period saves to hold off St. Louis until Bill Guerin's empty net score iced the win for the Islanders with under a minute remaining in the game.

Overall, the Islanders played consistently well and never let up and allowed the Blues to get back into the game. The team looked comfortable in Gordon's aggressive, puck pressuring system and controlled the tempo of play for most of the game.

"Hopefully that’s going to be our identity as a team and that’s how we’re going to play," Gordon said. "We haven’t done anything more than earn two points, but we’re headed in the right direction."

NOTES:
After the game, DiPietro denied reports that he had heavy swelling on his knee. He again served as the backup goalie and was available to play if needed. "It’s natural when you’re coming off surgery to have some swelling in there. It’s nothing serious," DiPietro explained. "If I wasn’t backing up, there would be something to talk about."

Andy Hilbert must have been relieved to get his first goal in only the second game of the season. Last year, it took Hilbert 20 games to register his first goal and point of the season. In 2006-07, it took 22 games for him to find the net. Hilbert had a goal and an assist and was named the first star of the game.

Defenseman Radek Martinek left with 3:10 left in the first period and did not return. He will be evaluated by team doctors Sunday and his status is unknown.

Thomas Pock made his Islanders' debut, replacing Jack Hillen in the lineup. Pock played 18:22, had one shot on goal and registered two hits. Blake Comeau and Josh Bailey were the other scratches for the Islanders.

Kevin Connolly of HBO's, "Entourage" dropped the ceremonial first puck. Connolly grew up an Islanders' fan and wore a #27 sweater with John Tonelli's name and number on it.