Danis makes 39 saves, Islanders make shots count in 2-1 win over Ducks

UNIONDALE, N.Y. - Yann Danis has played well as a fill-in in goal for the New York Islanders for five games. On Wednesday night, he finally got a win.

Danis made 39 saves, and Kyle Okposo and Kurtis McLean scored goals to help the Islanders snap an eight-game losing streak with a 2-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks.

"He didn't say they were sticking with me," Danis said about coach Scott Gordon, "but he did say they passed on both (Dany) Sabourin and (Curtis) Sanford."

New York won for the first time in 2009 after an 0-7-1 start.

Bobby Ryan scored for Anaheim. Jean-Sebastien Giguere started in net and stopped five shots, and was relieved by Jonas Hiller, who made seven more saves.

"We had more than our fair share of chances," Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said. "We only get one goal on a power play. (Danis) made a lot of great stops."

For the first time in four games, the Islanders scored first. It took just 2:38 into the game while on their first power play for Okposo to whistle a slap shot from the top of the left circle into the short side.

The Islanders made it 2-0 at 14:35 when McLean scored his first NHL goal, ripping a slap shot from the top of the right circle that beat Giguere between his pads.

The 28-year old rookie, playing in just his second NHL game, was beaming.

"I came off the bench and tried to utilize my speed," McLean said. "Franz made a great pass right on my tape, and I just blasted it. I can't believe I got my first goal, and it was the game winner."

At that point, a very upset Giguere was replaced by Hiller.

"It's just the way it went," Giguere said. "Goalies can win and lose games for you in this league."

Anaheim dominated play in the second period, and got one back at 16:45 when Ryan tipped a puck past Danis on a power play.

"Corey (Perry) made the play," Ryan said. "The only good thing I did was to get in front of the net. I had my chance there."

That gave Ryan goals in three straight games, and points in four. Ryan is tied for second in the NHL in rookie points with 30 on 15 goals and 15 assists.

The Islanders held on in the final period, despite being outshot 9-1. Their only shot they registered was when they were killing a penalty, and Nate Thompson fired the puck down from his own zone that Hiller turned aside.

Notes: New York was 4-1-0 in its five previous games against Anaheim. ... Anaheim has one more road game after the all-star break, when it visits Phoenix. ... The Islanders are off until next Thursday when they visit Atlanta.