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NHL

Roloson misses shutout, still tops Rangers

The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Dwayne Roloson made 25 saves, and Jon Sim and Blake Comeau scored to give the New York Islanders a 2-1 victory over the New York Rangers on Wednesday night.

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New York Islanders left wing Matt Moulson (26) reaches around New York Rangers right wing Enver Lisin in the second period of their NHL hockey game at Madison Square Garden in New York on Wednesday.

AP PHOTO

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The Islanders, who won one of six meetings between the area rivals last season, are already 2-0 against the Rangers this season. They will have a chance to sweep the home-and-home series Thursday night on Long Island.

Roloson was steady and was 55 seconds away from his first shutout in a year when Enver Lisin brought the Rangers within 2-1 in the final minute. Roloson has gone 71 games since he blanked Vancouver while with Edmonton on Dec. 13, 2008.

He was helped by the offensively challenged Rangers, who had only three shots in the first period and scored two goals or fewer for the seventh straight game and for the 17th time in 21 contests.

Sim scored in the second period, and Comeau provided much-needed insurance when he made it 2-0 with 3:10 left in the game.

It was a good bounce-back win for Roloson and the Islanders, who lost 7-1 at home to Florida on Monday night. Roloson, pulled from that one after allowing five goals on 23 shots, admitted the Islanders were looking ahead to the back-to-back games with the Rangers. The Islanders are 4-6 in their last 10.

Henrik Lundqvist made 26 saves for the Rangers, who have dropped five straight and are 1-6-2 in their past nine — scoring only 15 goals in that span.

The Islanders took a 1-0 lead in a first period in which they carried play. Defenseman Jack Hillen skated from Lundqvist’s left behind the net and out the other side. He sent the puck toward the crease, where it caromed off Sim’s right leg and sailed over Lundqvist’s shoulder with 5:35 left.

The Islanders held a 10-1 shots advantage then.

Hurricanes 5, Stars 3

RALEIGH, N.C. — Tuomo Ruutu had his first career hat trick, and Cam Ward made 24 saves to help the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Dallas Stars.

Eric Staal had a goal and two assists, and Jussi Jokinen had a goal and an assist. Last in the NHL, the Hurricanes won for only the eighth time this season.

Devils 2, Canadiens 1

NEWARK, N.J. — Martin Brodeur tied Patrick Roy’s NHL record for regular-season appearances by a goalie, and Patrik Elias scored the winner in the New Jersey Devils’ victory over the Montreal Canadiens.

Brodeur played his 1,029th game, all with New Jersey in his 16-year career. Roy played for Montreal and Colorado in his 18-year career.

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