DETROIT — Holding onto leads late in games has been an issue for the New York Islanders this
season.However, it wasn’t a problem on Monday night.Evgeni Nabokov made 23 saves for his 56th career shutout
in the New York Islanders’ 3-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Monday night.The Islanders scored all of
their goals in the first period.“We just wanted to stick with it and keep playing and not think about the
things that could happen,” said captain John Tavares, who had an assist.Kyle Okposo, Michael Grabner, Casey
Cizikas scored for New York. The Islanders have only won three of their past 17 (3-10-4) and it was
Nabokov’s first shutout of the season.“I thought we had an extra gear tonight. They might have come out
flat, but we did a good job to get on ‘em,” Okposo said.Petr Mrazek stopped 16 shots for Detroit.“I thought
our intensity in the first period wasn’t good enough. They scored on their shots and I don’t think we did
much. They didn’t do much either, but they scored,” Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said.“The bottom line is we
played catch-up all night long. I thought we made it easy on their team. We never got in on their D, we
weren’t physical like we have been, or heavy in the offensive zone.”Okposo opened the scoring with 9:03 left
in the first when he put a cross-crease pass into the empty-side of the net off the rush for his 12th
goal.Grabner got his fifth goal, with 4:53 remaining in the opening period, when his shot from the left
circle deflected off the stick of Detroit defenseman Brendan Smith. Cizikas made it 3-0, with 3:05 left in
the first period, when he put in a one-time shot from in front of the net. It was Cizikas’ fourth goal.“I
thought our guys started on time. We got the three goals, but we did some good things out there,” Islanders
coach Jack Capuano said. “We battled … In the end, it’s the will to compete and I thought we did.”Tavares
hit the post less than 30 seconds into the second period.Patrick Eaves hit the crossbar and Gustav Nyquist
hit the post for Detroit early in the third period.NOTES: Red Wings defenseman Jonathan Ericsson went to the
dressing room during the second period with an upper-body injury and did not return. Babcock said Ericsson
had been taken to the hospital and his condition will be updated Tuesday or Wednesday. … Petr Mrazek
started in goal for Detroit after Jonas Gustavsson came up with a tender groin and sat out as a precaution.
… The Islanders hadn’t played in Detroit in nearly three years. Their last game at Joe Louis Arena was
Dec. 31, 2010. … Red Wings’ RW Gustav Nyquist returned after missing three games with a groin injury. …
New York LW Matt Martin is from Windsor, Ontario, which is across the Detroit River from Detroit. …
Detroit C Stephen Weiss had sports hernia surgery in Philadelphia on Monday morning. He is expected to miss
6-to-8 weeks and the Red Wings are aiming for him to be back after the Olympic break, which is Feb. 9-25.
… A power outage in downtown Detroit forced the Red Wings to have their pre-game skate on Monday morning
in a partially-lighted Joe Louis Arena.