Islanders Happy to Escape With Tie

New York Islander Coach Mike Milbury called Mighty Duck forward Travis Green a “gutless puke,” after the teams tied, 2-2, which only begins to describe the bad feelings Friday at the Arrowhead Pond.

Milbury was angered by the first-period check Green delivered to Islander defenseman Kenny Jonsson, one of many dubious hits in a game that often spiraled out of the control of referee Brad Watson.

Jonsson apparently suffered a concussion, which would be his second this season and the sixth of his NHL career.

“He took advantage of somebody who was on the ropes,” Milbury said of Green’s hit on Jonsson. “I don’t know what day or year they come to Long Island, but it’s going to be interesting.”

Circle April 3 on your calendars.

“Oh, Mike,” said Green, a former Islander who was traded to Anaheim last Feb. 6, when told of Milbury’s postgame comments. “Some things never change, I guess. He knows everything. Maybe he’s right. Nothing surprises me with what that guy says.

“I’m not going dip to his level.”

Milbury believed Green’s check was a cheap shot, but Green didn’t agree. Watson did not penalize Green for the hit, which happened at the 15:26 mark of the first period.

“I’m not out there trying to hurt guys,” Green said. “It was a clean hit. What am I supposed to do? Stop? Because it was a good hit does that mean it’s dirty? I feel bad. I was just finishing my check. I wasn’t trying to hurt the guy. When I was there, he was a teammate, a friend. I’ve never been a dirty player.”

Asked where he hit Jonsson, Green said, “I think it was with my shoulder.”

The Ducks proved this season they can win by playing the beautiful game--passing, skating and scoring with uncommon flair. Friday, they showed they could compete in a game played in the gutter against the oafish Islanders.

The tie extended their unbeaten streak to six games (4-0-2).

Fredrik Olausson’s third goal of the season gave the Ducks a 2-1 lead only 2:29 into the third period. But New York’s Mariusz Czerkawski countered with his eighth goal of the season at the 10:32 mark.

Teemu Selanne scored a power-play goal in the first period to give the Ducks a 1-0 lead and extend his goal-scoring streak to three games.

Bryan Smolinski tied the score, 1-1, for the Islanders 4:34 into the second period.

But eye-catching offense took a back seat to all the thuggery. The tone for this one was set early.

Duck defenseman Jason Marshall got tangled up with New York’s Claude Lapointe only a minute into the game. Marshall crashed heavily into the boards and suffered an injured left hamstring.

Marshall did not return to the game and will be examined further today.

The Ducks spent the rest of the period giving paybacks to the Islanders.

Jim McKenzie slashed Islander center Sergei Nemchinov on the knee after taking a stick in the face along the boards at 13:40 of the first period.

Steve Rucchin delivered a tough check on Rich Pilon, then goaded the Islander defenseman into taking a roughing penalty at 15:17.

Green then hammered Jonsson, but it didn’t stop there.

Jeff Nielsen left his feet to crack New York defenseman David Harlock against the glass, which ignited fights all around the ice at 18:27.

Nielsen fought Lapointe and Kevin Miller at the same time. Jamie Pushor fought former Duck Joe Sacco, who was dealt to the Islanders in the deal that brought Green to Anaheim last Feb. 6.

Pushor and Sacco were both given game misconducts.