UNIONDALE - The Islanders scored three goals on their first four shots when last they took on the Rangers at home a month ago. While that was only a preseason contest, Miroslav Satan, Jason Blake, and Mark Parrish duplicated the feat, giving the Islanders three goals in the game’s first 2:47 in route of a 5-4 win at the Nassau Coliseum.

The decision comes on the heels of the team’s first ever shoot-out victory the previous night at Madison Square Garden, giving them a home-and- home sweep of their cross town rivals.

Jaromir Jagr recorded a hat trick for the Rangers, but his teammates were not nearly as effective against goalie Rick DiPietro. The southpaw was not as sharp as he was in the first game but still turned aside 24 of the 28 shots faced to put the Islanders one game over .500 for the first time this season.

Parrish broke out with his best game of the year, tripling his goal total in the process. His second score of the night came with the extra man early in the third and seized back the momentum. With Michal Rozsival in the penalty box for hooking, Parrish deflected a Brent Sopel slap shot past goalie Kevin Weeks for a two goal cushion.

“I don’t think we were expecting to score three goals like that but we knew it was important to come out and get the crowd and momentum on our side,” said Parish.

The winger had a chance to net a hat trick of his own, generating a breakaway with 40 seconds left.  His wrist attempt was stopped by Weeks, but the possible breathing room a score would have provided was not needed as New York now improves to 4-3 on the season.

“I don’t get many breakaways, so it came as a bit of a shock,” said Parrish. “I was just worried about getting it off.  I don’t think I scared Weeks too much.”

Jagr cut into the lead with his third goal of the game midday through the final period.  All of his goals came on the power play.  With Alexi Zhitnik penalized for interference, the former Art Ross winner recorded his 11^th career hat trick by belting a shot past DiPietro to cut it to 5-4.

“Seeing the puck off him is impossible, not only is he a strong shooter but he works very hard,” said DiPietro. “Our guys did a good job just trying to stick with him every shift he’s out there.”

While killing an early second period hooking penalty, Aaron Ashman broke free from inside the blue line after stealing a pass attempt, but was hooked down by Marek Malik. The burley forward kept control of puck while he was being pulled down, sweeping it past Weeks for his first goal of the year and a 4-2 lead.

The Rangers responded immediately, as Martin Rucinsky converted on an odd man rush to cut the lead back to one 46 seconds later. Marcel Hossa skated along the left flank before passing across the face-off circle to an open Rucinsky, who had the entire right side of the net open.

The initial lead for the Islander’s held up until the final minute of the first thanks to Jagr.  The sniper took advantage of a 5-on-3 power play with a rebound score, and duplicated the feat moments later when he wrested a high shot past a sprawling DiPietro to pull the Rangers within one.   

“We lost to them the last six times [before Wednesday], so its’ nice to finally start getting wins against those guys,” said Blake.

Notes: The contest was the first regular season Islanders-Rangers at the Coliseum since February 26, 2004 and the first non-sellout between the two teams at the venue since April 4, 1998…The attendance was 15,847. Yashin has registered at least a point in the last five games…The hat trick was Jagr’s first since February 4, 2003 [against Tampa Bay].