UNIONDALE, N.Y., Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Shawn Bates' shorthanded goal snapped a second-period tie Thursday night as the New York Islanders pulled away for their 20th win, a 4-2 victory over the reeling Pittsburgh Penguins.
Bates scored the Islanders' league-leading 11th shorthanded tally with 6:44 to go in the middle period. With rookie Raffi Torres serving a double-minor for high sticking, Bates tipped tipped the puck away from rookie Toby Petersen at the New York blue line.
Jason Blake joined Bates on the break and returned a pass to set up Bates' 12th goal of the season and third shorthanded.
Blake got an insurance goal three minutes later and Mark Parrish put in a rebound 6:02 into the third period to make it 4-1 after Torres' shot from the slot was stopped by goaltender Jean-Sebastien Aubin. It was Torres' first NHL point.
Chris Osgood made 18 saves, helping the Islanders extend their unbeaten streak against Pittsburgh to five games (4
1).
Blake contributed a goal and had an assist, matching his output in a 6-3 win against the Penguins on Oct. 10. The insurance goal was the third in as many games for Blake, who tied a career best with five this season.
Blake seemed to turn up his game after recovering from a hard hit on the end boards by former Islanders defenseman Darius Kasparaitis in the first period that caused a cut lower lip. Kasparaitis received a major penalty and a game misconduct.
Pittsburgh got on board first at 11:28 of the opening period as Wayne Primeau beat Osgood to the short side for his first goal since Nov. 10. Primeau's pass in the slot to Krzysztof Oliwa bounced back to him at the right side of the net.
Brad Isbister tied it on the power play 3 1/2 minutes later when he was credited with his ninth goal. Defenseman Adrian Aucoin's shot from the point was going wide, but the puck went in off Isbister's right shin pad.
Alexei Kovalev capped the scoring on the power play at 12:35 of the third period, but the Penguins suffered their third straight loss and fell to 1-7-2 in their last 10 games.
