g. Only once in 30

UNIONDALE, N. Nelson Cruz Jersey .Y. -- Once the game goes to a shootout, the New Jersey Devils are already a beaten team. They have been pushed past overtime 10 times this season, and have lost every one of the tiebreakers. The latest, a 2-1 defeat to the also-ran New York Islanders on Saturday night, pushed the Devils closer to missing the playoffs. "Even if we were just .500 on those, wed have an extra four or five points and we wouldnt be in this situation," said forward Patrik Elias, whose miss in the second round ended the game. Not only arent the Devils coming out on top, they are having trouble scoring. Only once in 30 shootout tries this season have they managed a goal. In seven of the 10 shootouts, they were behind 1-0 before their first attempt. That was the case again Saturday when Frans Nielsen started with a goal, and Brock Nelson added one in the second round. New Jersey has lost 14 consecutive shootouts, including two in the past two games. "Were at the point we can pretty much try everything because what were doing is not working," forward Damien Brunner said. "Maybe we have to start throwing some jokes around on the bench. It cant get any worse." Nielsen scored in the second period, when a puck struck Elias in the pants and caromed in to give the Islanders a brief 1-0 lead. Cory Schneider played well otherwise and made 19 saves, but the Devils are five points below the wild-card cutoff with eight games left and will have to jump over several teams. "We had a chance to actually get ourselves back in the race," he said of the Devils, 2-4-2 in their past eight. "We got a point, but if we had gotten two extra points the past two wed really be making noise. "I dont know if its in our heads or what. There is no real point in elaborating. Its just not good enough." The Islanders are 5-2-1 in the last eight games, relishing the role of late-season spoilers. "It was a fun game to play," Nielsen said. "Were a young team and were working hard." In this shootout, New Yorks Anders Nilsson turned aside Adam Henrique, who scored in regulation, and then Elias to win it. Nilsson made 23 traditional saves. New Jersey closed the gap in shots during the second and erased its deficit on Henriques career-high 25th goal with 9:40 left. Henrique has a goal in back-to-back games following a seven-game drought. The Islanders had gone ahead 2:12 into the second. Nielsen drove to the net, and defenceman Peter Harrold tried to sweep away the puck but knocked it in off teammate Elias for Nielsens 23rd goal. "It hit me somewhere in the pants," Elias said. "A little unlucky there. I knew I was in trouble." The Devils nearly got even sooner when Mark Fayne fired a hard shot from the blue line that Nilsson smothered in his midsection at 4:23. It was New Jerseys third shot of the second, one more than in the first. Nielsen almost struck again when he came in on a short-handed breakaway with 6:47 left in the second. He drew a slashing penalty, but New York couldnt capitalize. The Islanders were outshot 11-7 in the frame, yet killed three Devils power plays. New Jersey had a 7-3 shots advantage in the uneventful and scoreless third period and 4-1 in overtime. The Islanders had only 11 shots after the first period. They came out aggressively early and finished checks in all three zones in the first, including big hits by Colin McDonald, Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck that riled up the crowd. Mike Halmo also threw his body around, and then ripped a shot that Schneider snagged with his glove to keep the game scoreless with 4:36 left. That gave New York a 7-2 edge in shots. "The first period was a disaster," Brunner said, "but then we got better." When Ryan Carter got a hit in, he was called for boarding for drilling Islanders forward Johan Sundstrom from behind in front of the penalty box with 4:15 to go. The Islanders outshot the Devils 9-2 in the first and outhit them 19-4 -- with Anders Lee having four. "Were battling and working extremely hard," Islanders coach Jack Capuano said. "I dont think we gave them much." NOTES: The Devils matched their season low with the two-shot first period. ... Steve Bernier was in the New Jersey lineup after being a healthy scratch the previous two games. ... Reid Boucher, now playing with AHL Albany, scored the Devils lone shootout goal this season. ... With Kyle Okposo missing his second straight game because of a lower-body injury, the Islanders had 10 rookies in the lineup.Wei-Yin Chen Jersey .C. -- Bobcats centre Al Jefferson says hell play in Game 3 Saturday night against the Miami Heat. Nick Markakis Jersey . Poyets immediate challenge is to produce Sunderlands first victory in the league, with the northeast club bottom with just one point from seven matches. "Trust me, believe, connect with the team," Poyet said after signing a two-year contract. Newcastle manager Alan Pardew was banned for seven matches on Tuesday for head-butting an opposing player during a Premier League game, further besmirching the reputation of one of English footballs most hot-headed coaches. Pardew was hit with the heaviest punishment ever inflicted on a Premier League manager, which will involve him initially serving a three-match stadium suspension. He is banned from being on the touchline for the other four games. "As I have made clear, I deeply regret the incident and again wholeheartedly apologize to all parties for my conduct, which I understand was not acceptable," Pardew said in a statement released by Newcastle after an FA hearing. "I will accept the punishment handed down by the FA today." Pardew already has been sanctioned by Newcastle, accepting a formal warning and a fine of 100,000 pounds ($168,000), following his confrontation with Hull midfielder David Meyler on March 1. Meyler initially barged into Pardew as he looked to retrieve the ball for a throw-in in the 72nd minute of the game at KC Stadium. Pardew squared up to Meyler and moved his head in the direction of the players face, then was sent to the stands. The FA also fined Pardew 60,000 pounds ($100,000) and warned him about his future conduct. Wei-Yin Chen Authentic Jersey. Pardew is the first Premier League manager to receive a stadium ban. Earlier this season, then-Blackpool manager Paul Ince received a five-match stadium ban from the FA for violently shoving a fourth official during a rant filled with profanity. It is the latest touchline incident involving the hot-headed Pardew, who was banned for two matches last season for pushing a linesman and also was warned about his conduct in January after abusing Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini in the technical area. In light of this latest touchline spat, Pardew said he may have to stay in his seat in the dugout and resist the temptation to get close to the action. "Ive always been involved by being on the sideline," Pardew said. "But I dont think it can harm my managementship to sit there, and maybe Im at an age now where I need to." Pardew will not be able to attend Craven Cottage for Newcastles match at Fulham on Saturday. He will also miss the home games against Crystal Palace and Everton. Pardew has apologized to Hull and Meyler. Police said no criminal action will be taken against him. Newcastle is eighth in the Premier League with 10 matches remaining. wholesale jerseys cheap jerseys ' ' '