BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - Evgeni Nabokov stopped 35 shots in the New York Islanders' 4-0 win over the skidding and unraveling Buffalo Sabres, who were booed off the ice for a second consecutive home game on Saturday night.
Mark Streit and Michael Grabner broke the game open with goals 65 seconds apart late in the second period. Sabres defenseman Tyler Myers said "I don't like the way we react if the other team scores first. It's almost like, 'here we go again' instead of to put it behind you and go out in the next shift. It's a mindset that we have to grasp as a team if we want to start winning."
John Tavares and Colin McDonald sealed the win with third-period goals. Matt Moulson added two assists in helping the Islanders (8-9-1) win their second straight and fourth in six games. Sabres defenseman Christian Ehrhoff said "It's unacceptable; we put ourselves in that position again. We had a lot of chances on the power play but it was a chain and got away again."
Nabokov was particularly sharp in stopping 13 shots in the second period for his first shutout of the season and 53rd of his NHL career.
The Sabres have lost four in a row and five of six. They are 4-12-1 in their past 17. They were booed off the ice for the second straight game. Thomas Vanek said "No one enjoys it. I certainly don't. I would much rather have the fans cheering and us stay on the ice afterword and give them a salute but its not the way we're doing it right now. The fans are entitled to do whatever they want. I feel their frustration but we are working hard but we just make that first mistake constantly."
The Sabres are at Tampa Tuesday and at Florida Thursday. They returned home to play New Jersey next Saturday afternoon. Faceoff is scheduled for 3-pm at the First Niagara Center.