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NEW YORK -- New York Islanders coach Jack Capuano asked for more than just offence from his top line when they took on the rival New York Rangers. Alfonso Soriano White Jersey . John Tavares, Thomas Vanek and Kyle Okposo were also being counted on to slow down sizzling Rangers forward Rick Nash. That plan didnt go so well early. Nash scored twice in the first period, but the Islanders erased a two-goal deficit for the second straight day and beat the Rangers 5-3 on Tuesday night. "There was a time during the first period that I was going to probably break that line up," Capuano said, "but I wanted to see how they handled it. I thought they responded as the game went on and did a good job." Nash didnt do any more damage, Vanek scored the tiebreaking power-play goal with 4:38 left, Tavares had three assists, and Okposo added two as the Islanders won for the ninth time in 11 road games. The Islanders have won two of the first three meetings with the Rangers. The teams will play twice more in the next 10 days, including outdoors at Yankee Stadium. "Division games are huge this time of year. Its nice to beat these guys," Tavares said. "They got those two early goals, but I think for the most part we were the better team. We did a good job ... and finished off the game. Big win. Character win." Vanek capped the comeback as the Rangers were trying to kill a penalty for too many men. Colin McDonald and defenceman Thomas Hickey scored in the second period to get the Islanders even. Matt Martin scored a rare goal in the first, and Frans Nielsen added an empty-netter. Kevin Poulin made 30 saves in front of a nearly full crowd on a snowy night in New York. "The secondary guys came up big," Capuano said. "Our top line struggled a little bit in the first, but they came around. Your best players have got to be your best players. We were fortunate with that break with the too many men, but we were able to capitalize." Nash posted his second straight multigoal game, and Chris Kreider added a goal for the Rangers, who had won three in a row. Cam Talbot made 32 saves while subbing for Henrik Lundqvist, who missed the game due to illness. It was the first time in eight games the Rangers allowed more than two goals. "We wanted the two points, and we put ourselves in a good position to get them," Nash said. "We didnt get the job done." The Rangers pressed hard in the final minute after Talbot was pulled for an extra skater, but couldnt tie it. Unlike Monday in a 4-3 shootout win at home over Philadelphia, the Islanders didnt wait until the third period to tie it. "It was a good win," Capuano said, "but weve got a stretch coming up where weve got to make sure that were focused and were committed and doing the right things." After Kreider restored the Rangers two-goal lead at 9:34 of the second with a power-play goal, Hickey began the comeback with his fourth of the season off a perfect feed from Okposo with 6:38 left in the period. Just 3:14 later, McDonald got to a rebound off a hard shot by Tavares and fired a drive that beat Talbot for his fourth of the season to tie it. "Youre up 3-1 and you think maybe you can get through the period and play a good solid third, but we didnt," forward Brad Richards said. "We made some mistakes. Some nights other teams will capitalize, and some nights you get away with it. We didnt get away with it." For the second straight game, Nash struck quickly and gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead. Nash took a pass from behind the net from Kreider and wristed a shot past Poulin at 1:02 -- 8 seconds faster than Sunday when he put New York in front against Washington. The Islanders put lots of pressure on the Rangers in their end, but couldnt get a shot past Talbot. When Okposo failed to cleanly handle a pass near the right circle, Rangers defenceman Dan Girardi spotted Nash alone at centre ice and sent a pass to him. Nash received the puck with his back to the Islanders net, and quickly turned up ice and came in on a breakaway. Nash shifted the puck several times on his stick before sliding a shot in at 11:07 for his 16th of the season, fifth in three games, and ninth in nine games. The Islanders got one back with 2:38 left in the first when Martin took a pass in the slot from Tavares and scored his third of the season. NOTES: Martin went 38 games without a goal, dating to Nov. 1 at Ottawa. Hickey netted his first in 12 games, dating to Dec. 29 at Minnesota. ... Nash netted the winning goal in the previous four games in which he scored. ... The Rangers signed G David Leneveu to back up Talbot. Roger Maris White Jersey . The 27-year-old Niskanen, the more offensive-minded of the pair of defencemen joining the Capitals, got a $40.25 million, seven-year contract. "Its a very big commitment from Washington. Thats no small thing. Youre talking a seven-year commitment for a very substantial amount of money," said Niskanen, who got married Saturday.Shawn Kelley White Jersey . The World Group first round series will now continue Monday with Spain leading 1-0. Earlier Sunday, Czech Klara Zakopalova led the second singles match against Maria Torro-Flor 6-3, 2-0. MILAN, Italy -- Mauro Icardi scored twice to help Inter Milan beat 10-man Sampdoria 4-0 in Serie A on Sunday and boost its hopes of qualifying for the Europa League. Icardi is living with the ex-wife of former teammate Maxi Lopez, and the Sampdoria forward refused to shake Icardis hand before kickoff. Walter Samuel and Rodrigo Palacio also scored for Inter while Lopez had a penalty saved. Sampdoria played most of the match with 10 men after Eder was shown a second yellow card for his part in a brawl. Inter remained fifth but will be boosted by Parmas 1-1 draw at Bologna and Lazios 4-2 defeat at Napoli. Hellas Veronas slim European hopes diminished as it lost 5-3 at home to Fiorentina. Also, Chievo Verona beat Livorno 4-2 in a relegation battle, while Torino snatched a dramatic 2-1 win against Genoa. Icardi was booed every time he touched the ball by Sampdoria fans but that seemed to spur him on and he fired Inter in front in the 13th minute. Deafening jeers rang out but Icardi celebrated by cupping a hand to his ear and urging the fans on. Sampdoria could have immediately levelled when it was awarded a penalty after Andrea Ranocchia went into the back of Daniele Gastaldello, but Samir Handanovic denied Lopez. Sampdoria was down to 10 men after a brawl boke out in the 20th minute and Eder, who had been booked for diving, was shown a second yellow and dismissed. Inter doubled its lead on the hour mark when Samuel headed in Hernanes corner and Icardi sealed the result minutes later with his second of the match, driving across from a tight angle. Parma is two points behind Inter after rescuing a draw in the lunchtime kickoff. Bologna had only won one of its past nine games but looked to have secured a vital three points thanks to Niccolo Cherubins 44th-minute strike. However, Parma levelled 11 minutes from time when Raffaele Palladino volleyed home Jonathan Biabianys cross. Bologna moved three points clear of the releggation zone, while Parma remained in the Europa League spots -- three points above Lazio and Torino. Bernie Williams White Jersey. Gonazalo Higuain scored a hat trick for Napoli, ending his five-game goal drought. Senad Lulic had given Lazio a surprise lead when he forced his way past Raul Albiol and drilled across into the bottom left corner. Dries Mertens levelled with a swerving shot into the top right of goal shortly before halftime. Lazio was reduced to 10 men at the start of the second period as Lorik Cana was dismissed for a second booking after fouling Mertens. Higuain converted the resulting penalty. The former Real Madrid forward scored twice more, either side of Ogenyi Onazis consolation for Lazio. Torino appeared to be heading for defeat after substitute Alberto Gilardinos late goal. But Ciro Immobile and Alessio Cerci scored stunning strikes into the top right corner within 30 seconds of each other in stoppage time. Fiorentina had beaten Verona 4-3 earlier in the season and the fans were treated to another high-scoring game. Verona took the lead in the 14th minute with a diving header from Jacopo Sala after Neto had parried Juan Iturbes fierce effort. Fiorentina levelled when Juan Guillermo Cuadrado played a one-two with Borja Valero before shooting in under the bar from a very tight angle. And it went in front on the stroke of halftime as Alberto Aquilani was left completely unmarked to poke in Manuel Pasquals cross. Valero extended Fiorentinas advantage and Veronas slim hopes of getting something from the game diminished when Marco Donadel was dismissed for a poor challenge on Cuadrado Former Fiorentina forward Luca Toni converted a penalty for Verona after David Pizarro was adjudged to have tripped Iturbe. Aquilani restored Fiorentinas two-goal advantage and Alessandro Matri also scored a contentious spot kick after a Domenico Maietta handball. Iturbe scored late on after running from his own half. cheap jerseys from china cheap jerseys ' ' ' |
