Danis beats former Islanders teammates; Rolston scores winner for Devils

Danis makes 23 saves, Devils win fourth straight

NEWARK, N.J. — Yann Danis made 23 saves and stopped four in-close attempts in the third period against his former Islanders teammates, helping the New Jersey Devils beat New York 2-1 on Friday night for their fourth straight win.

Brian Rolston scored the winner on a power play and defenseman Cory Murphy added his first goal as a Devil as New Jersey posted its 10th win in 12 games.

Frans Nielsen scored for the Islanders, who have dropped two straight after winning four in a row. Martin Biron had 29 saves for New York.

The game also marked the return of Patrik Elias to the Devils’ lineup. He missed the first 13 coming back from hip and groin surgery.

Danis, signed as a free agent in the offseason, had a relatively easy night as Jacques Lemaire’s team bottled up the Islanders for most of the game.

The goalie came up big three times in the final period, stopping Matt Moulson in close with 13:17 to go and then stopping two more attempts near the crease by Mark Streit and rookie John Tavares with just over 6 minutes to play.

Danis also got a piece of Kyle Okposo’s shot in the waning seconds that slid along the goal line and was cleared.

Islanders defenseman Radek Martinek had to be helped off the ice with about 5:45 to play after appearing to hurt his right leg in front of the New Jersey bench.

Rolston’s winner came just 24 seconds after Andy Sutton was sent off for hooking in the second period. Defenseman Andy Greene, who set up Niclas Bergfors’ winner against Washington on Wednesday, walked the puck across the blue line and feathered it to Rolston on the point for a hard shot. It was his fourth goal of the season and 100th goal as a Devils for the 36-year-old Rolston, who is in his second stint in New Jersey.

Murphy, who was put on waivers by New Jersey earlier this season, tied the score at 1-all on a shot from the right point. The puck may have hit off the stick of Islanders forward Jeff Tambellini before going between Biron’s legs at 2:38 of the period.

Sean Bergenheim set Nielson’s goal at 6:23 of the first period. He outdueled Bergfors for the puck along the left boards and centered a pass to Nielsen, who rolled it past Danis after almost whiffing on his first shot.

Elias played well at center. He barely missing the net on a short-handed attempt in the first period and had a deflection go wide of the goal in second.

NOTES: Nielsen’s goal was his first in 11 games against the Devils. … Before the game, the Devils put D Johnny Oduya and C Rob Niedermayer on injured reserve and activated Elias. … Ilkka Pikkarainen earned his first NHL point on Murphy’s goal.