Friday April 4

The first day of the last weekend of regular season hockey around the NHL had 6 games on tap. While most teams have insured a playoff spot, a couple of issues were at stake on Friday including some positioning. Former Islanders played vital roles in some of the games. Let us take a look at the FI contributions:

* Martin Straka had 2 assists, including 1 on the tying goal, as the New York Rangers fell to the visiting Islanders 4-3 in SO. Straka has 14 goals and 27 assists for 41 points on 65 games. Over the home-and-home with the Isles, Straka had 4 points on 1 goal and 3 asssits. For the 3rd straight season, and 10th time on his career, Straka has reached the 40+ point mark.

* Devils' backup goalie Kevin Weekes came in for 8 minutes of play resting the workhorse Martin Brodeur as New Jersey fell to the host Philadelphia Flyers 3-0. Weekes stopped the only shot he faced in his first appearance since March 22. Weekes is 2-2-1 on the season with an .894 save percentage and a 2.97 goals against average. Weekes has only made 9 appearances this season including 5 starts.

* Zdeno Chara scored the first goal of the game as the visiting Boston Bruins edged the Ottawa Senators 2-1. Chara has 17 goals, a new single season high, and 34 assists for 51 points on 76 games. He snapped a 7 game goal-less streak with the netter.

Check back soon for more news and updates as we wrap up the regular season here at FIW.