PITTSBURGH – Petr Sykora scored with 2:28 remaining and the Penguins, badly missing the injured Sidney Crosby, played dismally most of the game but still beat the last-place Islanders 1-0 last night.
Defenseman Sergei Gonchar threw the puck from the right circle toward a crowd in front of the net, and Sykora gathered it and stuffed it in the side of the net before goalie Yann Danis could react.
Sykora’s 23rd goal ended Danis’ five-period shutout streak and was the only score allowed by Danis on 68 shots over two games. Danis made 40 saves in shutting out the Devils 4-0 on Saturday night, his second career shutout.
Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, pulled after giving up five goals during a 5-2 loss in Washington on Sunday, made 21 saves for his third shutout this season and the 13th of his career. A slumping Fleury yielded 13 goals in his last three games.
The Islanders have been held to six goals while losing their last six road games and are 1-19-1 away from home since Nov. 22.
Penguins 1 Islanders 0