INSIDE HOCKEY

The New York Islanders had two players earn significant personal milestones but the Phoenix Coyotes walked away with the two points. Doug Weight became just the eighth American born player to score 1,000 career points and rookie Josh Bailey scored his first NHL goal but it wasn't enough to overcome goals by five different Coyotes as Phoenix held on for a 5-4 win. Zbynek Michalek led the Coyotes' attack with a goal and an assist while goalie Mikael Tellqvist made 29 saves to earn the victory.

Weight assisted on two late Islander goals to reach the historic milestone.

"I couldn’t really move all game today," Weight said. "I felt a little nervous. It worked out, having my family here. It’s something I’ll be proud of and remember the rest of my life."

The game was tied 1-1 late in the first period when Michalek scored with just 10 seconds left in the opening stanza to turn the game's momentum around. Blake Comeau pulled down Enver Lisin in the Isles' zone and a delayed penalty was called. Lisin got back to his feet and fed a pass back to Michalek who let a slap shot fly from the left point to give Phoenix a 2-1 advantage after one period.

The Coyotes dominated the second period, outshooting New York 14-5. Rick DiPietro, who was making only his fifth start of the season, managed to keep the game close, yielding only one goal in the period, a wrist shot by Shane Doan with 4:55 left before the second intermission to make it 3-1 Phoenix.

After ex-Islander Ollie Jokinen made it 4-1 Coyotes at the 3:10 mark of the third period, the Isles began their comeback. Bailey notched his first career NHL goal on a wrist shot from the slot set up by a pretty pass by Bill Guerin from behind the goal. The Islander captain immediately retrieved the puck for the rookie first round draft pick who was playing in his 25th career NHL game.

Bailey was relieved to finally get his first career goal. "Obviously it was wearing on me quite a bit for the last while now," Bailey said. "Hopefully the flood gates will open now and I’ll get a lot more confidence."

"Josh could have had a hat trick," said Islanders' Coach Scott Gordon. "We're thrilled he's able to get his first. He deserved it tonight because he had several opportunities. He should have had it earlier. Josh skated well with and without the puck. That's why he had more chances tonight."

The Coyotes increased their lead to 5-2 on a pretty unassisted goal by Joakim Lindstrom. Lindstrom scored an unassisted tally after a turnover at the Islander blue line. He came in alone on DiPietro and beat him low to the glove side.

Weight's moment spurred a late Islander comeback with Richard Park scoring two late goals for the Isles. A long pass by Weight set up Park's first of the game with 3:06 left in regulation. It was Weight's 1,000th career point in what has become a strong, comeback season for the 37-year-old center. He now leads the Islanders with 32 points, seven more than he had all of last season which he split between St. Louis and Anaheim. Weight's family was in attendance and the Coyotes briefly stopped the game and made an announcement to honor Weight's accomplishment.

"It was unbelievable for the team to stand up and give me a hand and the crowd, too," Weight said. "The U.S. has a lot of U.S. hockey fans and me being an American it’s nice to do it on this soil. It was a very nice hand I got and I appreciate it."

Some pretty passing set up Park's second goal of the game which closed the deficit to 5-4 with just 28 seconds left in the third period. With the Islander net empty, Weight found Mark Streit on at the left point and Streit made a quick cross ice pass to Park who was open to the left of the crease to put home a one-timer past Tellqvist.

The Islanders had a few faceoffs in the Coyotes' zone late in the game but were unable to cash in.

"I like the way our team didn't give up," Gordon said after the game. "Even down 5-2 they kept pushing the play. It wasn't just a last ditched effort. We had some fluky goals against us and some bad bounces happened."

The Islanders road trip continues Saturday night in San Jose. The Coyotes next contest will be Sunday evening in Anaheim.

NOTES:

DiPietro returned to the lineup after missing three games with a strained groin. DP also picked up his second assist of the season. "It was good to get back into the game and get some live action," DiPietro said. "It was nice that I didn’t hurt anything and finished the game. Besides losing, I feel good physically."

Trent Hunter was also back in action after being checked hard into an open door Monday at Madison Square Garden.

Streit's assist gave him 31 points for the season, tops among NHL defensemen.

Forward Frans Nielsen and defenseman Radek Martinek took part in the Isles' morning skate Friday and are getting closer to returning to action.

Enforcer Mitch Fritz cleared waivers and was assigned to Bridgeport of the AHL.