Islanders 6
Blues 3
ST. LOUIS – The Islanders did what they were supposed to do, played the part of the schoolyard bullies, and squeezed the life out of an inferior opponent like their lunch money depended on it.
“This is a team that’s below us in the standings right now and we’ve got to make sure we beat those teams,” Brad Lukowich was saying yesterday morning. “We’re supposed to beat these guys.”
The Islanders took care of business here against the worst team in hockey last night, chasing the Blues from their own building in a 6-3 win.
Mike York, who potted the winner Sunday in Detroit to open the trip, picked up where he left off with three first-period points on a pair of goals and a pretty zone-cutting pass to Mark Parrish on the right post for a 3-0 lead. York’s five points last night (2-3-5) gave him eight in six games since jumping into the second-line spot vacated by early-season MVP Shawn Bates, who is out at least a month with a hamstring injury.
“The puck’s just finding my stick,” York said. “I’m getting opportunities and they’re going in.”
Though the final score was lopsided, it wasn’t easy, and the game wasn’t without drama. The Isles allowed their hosts to nudge their way back into it during a second-period parade to the penalty box. The Isles were whistled for four consecutive penalties in the middle period that allowed the Blues to slice what was a three-goal lead to a one-score margin before regaining control on Parrish’s power-play deflection that put them up 4-2 late in the middle period.
“We won 6-3, but that was definitely not an easy game,” Rick DiPietro said. “The Blues took it to us in that second period.”
Arron Asham took at least three fierce punches to the side of his head and showed incredible restraint in not immediately dropping his gloves, sending Matt Walker to the box for four minutes for roughing that set up Parrish’s second of the night.
Blues goalie Patrick Lalime was yanked with 1:38 left in the second after allowing four goals on 13 shots, and the Isles went into the final 20 minutes leading by a pair.
Jason Blake and Asham added third-period insurance goals, each assisted by York, and the Islanders cruised to their sixth win in their past seven road games.
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Parrish (back spasms) left in the third period after he was boarded by Chris Dallman. Kevin Colley received a 10-minute misconduct after tangling with Dallman soon after . . . The Isles are 4-0-2-1 here, and haven’t lost in regulation since 1995.
evan.grossman@nypost.com
