- (Sports Network) - Trent Hunter scored two goals, including the game-winner 51 seconds into overtime, as the New York Islanders edged the Tampa Bay Lightning, 4-3, at the St. Pete Times Forum. Mike Comrie registered a goal and assist for the Islanders, while Frans Nielsen collected two assists.

With franchise goaltender Rick DiPietro, the first overall pick in the 2000 draft, still recovering from offseason hip surgery, Joey MacDonald made his fourth straight start for the Isles, stopping 33-of-36 shots to earn his fifth career win.

Vaclav Prospal had a goal and assist to pace Tampa Bay, which has yet to get new coach Barry Melrose his first win. Olaf Kolzig allowed four goals on 36 shots in defeat.

Tampa Bay got on the board 3:43 into the third period. Prospal sent a long, cross-ice pass that banked off the boards to a streaking Vincent Lecavalier down the right side. The Lightning captain, with a defender draped over him, shielded the puck and chipped it past the left pad of MacDonald, cutting the deficit to 2-1.

Prospal's power-play marker evened the contest with 7:58 remaining, but New York regained the lead less than two minutes later on Hunter's third tally of the young season. Tampa Bay came right back, as Ryan Malone found a loose puck down low and stuffed it past MacDonald just 1:06 later.

"We could have easily had a letdown after they tied it up 2-2, but we responded right away," said Islander head coach Scott Gordon.

In the extra session, Kolzig ventured out of his crease and misfired on the clearing attempt. Nielsen gathered the puck in the left corner and quickly fed Hunter, who popped it into the empty net.

"It's one you'd obviously love to have back and maybe make a different play with it," said Kolzig on the overtime goal.

New York opened the scoring at the 2:47 mark of the first period. Bruno Gervais gained the Lightning's zone and dished to Kyle Okposo along the right side. Okposo then let go a shot from the middle of the faceoff circle and Kolzig made the initial stop, but Comrie buried the juicy rebound in the back of the net.

Doug Weight gave the Isles a two-goal lead with 6:06 remaining in the second period. While on the power play, the veteran pivot ripped a slap shot from the left point that was redirected by the stick of Tampa Bay defenseman Mike Lundin and in behind a stunned Kolzig.

Game Notes

New York won three of four matchups with Tampa Bay last season...Lightning defenseman Paul Ranger returned to the lineup after missing the first three games of the year following offseason shoulder surgery...Tampa Bay's Andrej Meszaros recorded two assists.



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