UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) The Ottawa Senators had talked about avoiding a letdown after clinching a postseason berth.

Martin Biron and the New York Islanders had other ideas.
Biron made 28 saves and John Tavares, Dylan Reese and Jack Hillen each scored goals in the second period to lift New York to a 4-1 win over Ottawa on Saturday.

Sean Bergenheim added another goal in the final period and Blake Comeau and Richard Park each had two assists.

The Islanders won for the fourth time in five games to stay alive in the Eastern Conference playoff race, scoring 17 goals in its last four games.

"Right now it seems we're clicking the way we want," said

UNIONDALE , N.Y. -- Earlier this season, Jeff Tambellini couldn't even crack the New York Islanders' lineup. After Saturday's performance, he's tied for the team lead in goals.

With his father -- Edmonton Oilers GM Steve Tambellini -- in the crowd, Tambellini scored two of the Isles' three even-strength tallies in the second period and added a power-play goal in third as New York won its third straight with an impressive 5-0 victory over the Buffalo Sabres at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

"It's a pretty special night for me," Tambellini said. "To have him in the building is just the icing on top. I'm happy he was here and I'm happy he got to see that. It's a

July 23, 2009

The Islanders will not be caught short again.

Ensuring stability in nets regardless of the state of Rick DiPietro's health, the Islanders have signed free-agent goaltender Martin Biron to a one-year, $1.4 million steal of a deal, The Post has learned.

Biron, who will be 32 next month and who has been a No. 1 for Buffalo and, most recently, Philadelphia, is the second free-agent netminder signed this summer by the Islanders. They were crippled last season when the chronically injured DiPietro went down early with a recurring left knee injury that required surgery and limited him to five games.

On July 1, general manager Garth Snow