Biron’s patience paid off as the 32-year-old posted wins in consecutive starts in a six-day span. With the impending Olympic break, Biron did his best to showcase his skills before the league’s March 3 trade deadline.

Islanders coach Scott Gordon said Biron is handling the team’s three-man goaltender situation professionally. Dwayne Roloson and Biron started the campaign as a platoon before Rick DiPietro’s return from injury last month.

Roloson started Sunday night against Ottawa and made 31 saves before the Ottawa Senators scored a trio of third-period goals to send the Islanders into the Olympic break with nine losses in its last 11 games.

The logjam regulated Biron to third-string status that resulted in a conditioning stint in AHL Bridgeport. But Biron returned against Nashville last Tuesday after previously appearing for the Islanders back on Dec. 27. He made 24 saves in a win over the Predators and logged another 38 stops to push the club to a 5-4 win over Tampa Bay on Saturday.

Biron’s successful week can give general manager Garth Snow leverage in trade talks while also providing the Islanders fledging playoff hopes a much-needed boost before the two-week stoppage for the winter games.

“Marty is at the point where he just wants to play and he’s not thinking a lot about what’s going to happen before and after the deadline,” Gordon said. “With all the inactivity he when Ricky came back, it’s gotten to the point that he’s just happy to be playing.”

The team’s goal-scorers seem happy that Biron is back. Through two games, the Islanders have scored eight regulation goals. That support was lacking in Biron’s earlier appearances as the Isles scored just nine goals in Biron’s seven games before his inactive stretch from Dec. 27-to-Feb.9.

“He’s probably loving the fact he’s getting some goal support [in] making his job a little easier,” Gordon said.

Biron’s start against Steven Stamkos and the Lightning came after DiPietro was scratched with the flu.  He is 203-173-25-22 with a .911 career save percentage and a 2.61 goals against average.

The Islanders are also getting contributions for another Martin: rookie Matt Martin. The 20-year-old tallied two assists in his NHL debut and used his 6-2 frame to give the Isles toughness that had been lacking earlier this season.

When Tampa Bay’s Mattias Ohlund checked top overall draft pick John Tavares hard into the s bench-side boards, Martin immediately skated over to confront Ohlund before Tampa’s Nate Thompson stepped in.

Martin fought Thompson exchanged numerous punches in a fight that ended in a draw. Martin registered 91 penalty minutes in 53 games for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers before getting promoted.[book id='' /]

Islanders Martin Biron Feature Wrap

Martin Biron made 24 saves in his first NHL game since Dec. 21 while struggling rookie John Tavares added the game-winning goal in the fourth round of a shootout to lift the Islanders to a 4-3 win over Nashville on Tuesday night.

The Islanders snapped a season-high seven-game losing skid and cracked the three-goal threshold for the first time in nine games. Mark Streit’s right-point goal skipped past Pekka Rinne with 11.4 seconds left, setting up goals from Frans Nielsen and Tavares in the one-on-one session for the Isles first victory since Jan. 21.

Tavares, who has just two goals and five assists in his last 28 games, beat Rinne high-stick side for the winning strike and send the Isles into its game against the defending-champion Penguins on Wednesday with momentum.

“It’s a little bit off our shoulders,” Tavares said. “Things haven’t been going our way. It’s nice to feel good again. We have a tough test tomorrow but we’re up for it.”

Rob Schremp logged two assists to help revive a sputtering offense. Matt Martin also came through with a two-point night in his NHL debut, picking assists on both power play goals.

The 20-year-old left-handed shot set up Streit’s clutch goal in the waning seconds and was rewarded after the contest with the team’s plastic hard hat—given to the hardest working player after an Islanders victory.

“The goal was a blur,” Martin said. “I saw Streit wide open and he made a great shot.

“I was pumped up. We had a feeling we would win after that. I think the guys started to get their confidence back.”

Streit’s eighth goal ignited a celebration on the Islanders bench and helped Biron post his first NHL win since Nov. 13. The 11-year veteran stopped Steve Sullivan, David Legwand and Patric Hornqvist. Martin Erat scored Nashville’s only shootout goal when Biron prematurely lunged on a poke-check attempt and fell.

“We were obviously very happy for Marty,” Islanders coach Scott Gordon said. “I don’t think you could ask for a better teammate.”

All three non-shootout Islanders goals came from defensemen as Streit, Freddy Meyer and Bruno Gervais all tallied scores.

Gervais scored during a two-man advantage with 57 seconds left in the second period, tying the score at 2 right before intermission.

Gervais slammed in a rebound off Schremp’s shot ending a 0-for-24 streak on the power play in marking the club’s first power play goal since Jan. 26 against Washington.

But Nashville responded to its own two-man advantage when Steve Sullivan’s left circle laser beat Biron 4:12 into the third for a 3-2 Nashville lead. Erat’s crisp pass on Sullivan’s stick set up the winger’s 12th goal while Sean Bergenheim (high-sticking) and Blake Comeau (cross-checking) watched from the Islanders penalty box.

Erat gave the Islanders life late when he boarded Andrew MacDonald with 46 seconds left, setting up a 6-on-4 Islanders advantage after Biron was pulled for the extra attacker.

Biron is a three-man logjam with Rick DiPietro and Dwayne Roloson and could be headed out with the league’s trade deadline approaching in March.

“It’s been a tough situation,” Biron said. “We’re trying to do the best for each other and giving each chance to get some shots in practice.”

Biron, who was recalled from AHL Bridgeport, played in his first NHL game since Dec. 21. The 32-year-old veteran said the conditioning stint in the minor leagues was beneficial despite his 11 years of big league experience. The game could also be a showcase for Islanders general manager Garth Snow.

“My first practice in Bridgeport, an hour plus in net, I was dead tired afterwards. I haven’t seen that for a month,” Biron said. “With three goalies, you have to make the best out of it.”

“I knew the situation coming in and I know most likely I’ll be a chip for Garth to acquire something and give me a chance to continue my season.”

Meyer’s first goal since Jan. 21opened the scoring 5:10 into the period. Nashville’s previous breakdowns that allowed open shots for Bergenheim and Andy Sutton finally resulted in a score when Schremp drew the attention of two defenders near the sideboards.

Schremp fed a pass to an open Meyer after Erat overcommitted to stop the pass. The defenseman blasted a shot from the high slot for his second goal in 42 games. The offensive output sets up an important game with Sidney Crosby and the Penguins.

“Every game is important if we want to believe we have a chance to make the playoffs,” Gordon said. “The two points tonight will have more significance if we put together an effort that allows us to win the game tomorrow.”

Nashville responded by scoring twice in a 3:16 span.  Frans Nielsen’s desperation clear in the Islanders crease off Biron’s rebound went right to Cal O’Reilly’s stick blade, who buried the shot for his first goal this season.

Just minutes later, Joel Ward took advantage of a poorly executed Islanders line change to complete his breakaway goal to put the Predators ahead 2-1 heading into second intermission. Sutton was late getting over and smashed his stick over the Islanders crossbar as Ward celebrated his 12th goal at 13:51.

So there he was, Weis, with Yankees General Partner Hal Steinbrenner, Yankees President Randy Levine and Yankees Chief Operating Officer Lonn Trost, at the new stadium Monday afternoon, in the new conference room downstairs by the new Yankees clubhouse.  So was Army head football coach Rich Ellerson there, to announce what was inevitable.

College football returns to Yankee Stadium. It isn’t Fordham University football, a school with football tradition only 20 minutes from the new $1.5 billion dollar ballpark. The Army-Notre Dame rivalry, a historic game with tradition is back in the Bronx at Yankee Stadium.

And the game that used to pack them in at the old stadium will try and be just as good as it used to be in the Bronx.  “Good to see the game back at the stadium,” said longtime Yankees fan and Steinbrenner family friend Bill Stiners who was in the conference room and smiled when Weis reminisced a bit about the old days of Army-Notre Dame football games in the Bronx at the stadium.

This was a plan that has been in the works. Besides the Yankees, college football rivalries returning to the new stadium, possibly even some elite pro boxing bouts at the new ballpark. The NHL may have a plan to put a rink on the new field, as Trost said, discussions were going on with the NHL about Yankee Stadium hosting an NHL game in the future.

Trost has been in discussion with some of the elite boxing people. Bob Arum, his friend at Top Rank has some of the names that could pack them in at the new Yankee Stadium. On the same day, Arum announced that Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto will have the elite fight of the year in November, but not at Yankee Stadium, in Las Vegas.

“It’s something that could be happening here one day,” said Trost with a smile. Of course it will, because the old stadium that awaits the wrecking ball across the street at one time hosted 33 championship fights, the last one when Muhammad Ali got a decision over Ken Norton on September 28, 1976.

But this day was all about Notre Dame and Army, playing another football game in the Bronx.  The rivalry resumes for the 50^th time on November 20 2010 and later this week

-an announcement will be made as to more additional dates for Army in 2011, 2012 and 2014, one game against Rutgers.

Hal, who is now in control of the Yankees recalled the day his father George heard about the idea of their new ballpark hosting another Army-Notre Dame game. “He reminded me how great and rich this rivalry is,” said Hal who has the responsibility of getting this current Yankees team another championship.

Weis is also trying to get his Notre Dame program another college football championship. He may or may not be around to see it if his Fighting Irish, struggling the past few years, fail to revive some history n September as there are always rumors about his job security.

“I expect the locker room to be buzzing tomorrow,’ he said, as Weis was going to meet with his players Tuesday and tell them about their upcoming visit to the Bronx. And it was Weis who approached George Steinbrenner about the idea of Notre Dame playing Army at the new stadium.

Two years ago he met with Steinbrenner at Legends Field down In Tampa Florida at the Yankees spring training complex. “I looked at him and said, ‘Mr. Steinbrenner, you’ve got this new stadium going up. I mean you’re not going to have Notre Dame and Army scheduled for your first football game?’”

Weis said Steinbrenner laughed. But, we all know, when George laughed at a thought it meant something would happen. He always managed to laugh at the idea of getting the players he wanted that brought championships across the street in the old ballpark   The “Win one for the Gipper” term that came from the Knute Rockne halftime speech when the Irish defeated unbeaten Army 12-6 in 1928 was brought up by Hal.

His father played football at William and was an assistant at Northwestern and Purdue. They still have to work on the field dimensions for football in the new ballpark.  They will from the plan of goal posts at first base to the outfield area.  NBC Sports plans to televise this game, and the others, as they have contract obligations with Notre Dame.

This game in 2010 could be “Win one for George,” Said Weis afterwards, “It should be, it was his doing,” he said about George.

MORE YANKEES:  Yankee manager Joe GIrardi and Weis exchanged greetings. Earlier he met with his GM Brian Cashman for the usual update. There are no problems in Yankee land right now. The team is currently tied with Boston for the top spot in the AL East with Boston, though with a Steinbrenner around the ballpark there is always the question of job security,

“We have a championship caliber team,” said Hal who now does the talking for his father. “We have to see come the second week of August,” he said about the Yankees not winning a game against their rivals, 0-8, this season and the Yanks hosting Boston in the Bronx August 6-9.

And as Hal said, something that Girardi has been saying, “I think everybody is contributing….It’s all working,” he said.  The Yankees are playing under .500 against division rival teams, including Tampa Bay with a 15-17 mark. Last year at this time

They were struggling, nine games behind the Sox.

But that issue of job security around the Yankees and their manager is constant. The feeling is Girardi has to take this team to the playoffs and World Series to be successful. If not, his job is in jeopardy no matter where they stand now. “Joe knows where who he is working for,” said Hal who overall is content as to what is going on so far.

Beating the Red Sox and the Angels remains as to the only issue, as to how good are the Yankees. The past week, since the all-star break the Yankees have been getting their one or two home runs, and the pitching has been exceptional with a bullpen also that shuts the door in one run games.

Hal alluded to the Yankees taking series games, sweeping three games or taking two  of three, which is consistency, and the pitching has been a major part of it.  The guys believe they are better than anybody,” said Hal….

And as to his job security, said Girardi, “I knew that when I took the job. That will never change even for the next guy.” There is a difference in the clubhouse from last season. “A different dimension of guys in the clubhouse,” said Girardi. And perhaps a difference on the field as to why the Yankees are a better team defensively.

Mark Teixeira makes the plays at first that Jason Giambi could not.  Phil Hughes has been comfortable now in his new role as a set up man for Mariano Rivera, and for the moment will stay there rather than work him back in the rotation for the injured Chien-Ming Wang.

Hughes has a 0.89 ERA in 15 relief appearances and has not allowed a run in his last 13 outings since June 14^th, and the Yankees are 45-1 when leading after eight innings, a reflection on what Hughes and the pen are doing.  Also Alfredo Aceves,(6-1) the right hander out of the pen is not being considered as an option as that fifth starter in place of Wang.

Aceves is tied in the American League with the most wins as a reliever. “Hughes is an important bridge to Mariano right now and we are keeping him in the bullpen,” said Girardi.

e-mail Rich Mancuso:  Ring786@aol.com

John Tavares, the No. 1 overall draft choice, signed a three-year entry level contract worth almost $900,000 per season that could escalate to as much as four million dollars annually if incentives are reached. Should the 18-year-old center make the Islanders out of training camp, his first NHL game action will come against former top overall draft picks in Sidney Crosby and goalie Marc-Andre Fleury.

“It’s really not going to change the way I think or the way I live my daily life or approach the game,” Tavares said at the team’s Iceworks facility.

The contact came during the last day of prospect camp. Tavares was named the fourth top overall draft selection in Islanders history during June’s draft in Montreal and will now compete for a roster spot right away when the club assemblies for the Saskatoon-based training camp.

“It’s good to be here and officially be part of the organization,” Tavares said. “It’s nice to have it behind me but it’s not going to change me.

“I still have to work on a lot of things, getting physically stronger and getting my pace up to NHL standards.”

General manager Garth Snow worked with Tavares to reach an agreement early in the offseason. It took the Islanders until Oct. 2 to sign last year’s first round pick Josh Bailey, who missed the first 14 games with an unspecified lower body injury.

The Islanders will not have to worry about a holdout and Tavares said he can concentrate on preparing for the season instead of worrying about the game’s business aspect.

“He’s a driven kid and obviously we’ve said all along he’s another piece of the puzzle of what we’re trying to build here,” Snow said. “He’s going to fit in nicely with the group that we have.”

Scott Gordon led the practice for the team’s prospects and other invited young players that started Friday and concluded yesterday.

The Islanders head coach said the sessions were designed to be instructional instead of a way to evaluate skills, though Gordon said he came away impressed with the teenage Tavares’ poise and offensive skills near the net.

“Sometimes it looks like he has three sticks to the defender’s one stick in his ability to do the things he does with the puck,” Gordon said. “His nose around the net is a unique talent and to me that was the most evident thing about his game that really stood out.”

Almost 500 people attended Tavares’ public press conference last week and a similar crowd lined up to get into the practice facility here on Sunday when a scrimmage was open to the public. Before his first shift, Tavares already has helped generate excitement to a team that finished the season last in attendance.

“It’s great to see the fan support in the middle of July when they could be on the beach instead of in a cold rink,” said Calvin de Haan, the Islanders other first-round pick and a former teammate of Tavares in the OHL. “It’s an exciting time for this team. They’re rebuilding and we have a lot of talent coming up through the system.”