NHL DiPietro blanks Tampa Bay, 3-0

New York tied the best-of-seven series at one apiece.
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Don't let Rick DiPietro's calm demeanor fool you.
The New York Islanders goalie is no different than any other player who has butterflies before a big game, even if his performance in Saturday's 3-0 playoff victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning suggests otherwise.
"I think everyone's nervous," the 22-year-old goaltender said. "If you don't have jitters, then you better check your pulse because this is a big time of year. Big circumstances."
DiPietro got his first postseason win in his second career start, stopping all 22 shots to help the Islanders even the best-of-seven Eastern Conference first-round series at one game apiece.
Jason Blake returned from a high ankle sprain, expected to sideline him for the entire series, and scored his first two career playoff goals -- including an empty-netter with just under a minute to go.
Special time
"Obviously, it's a special time of the year," said Blake, who practiced Friday for the first time in more than two weeks and then lobbied to play.
"A lot of guys only get to play in the playoffs once in their career, and we've got a good team. I was sitting in the stands last game -- just watching -- and it's tough to watch. ... I'm a competitor and I want to be out there."
Janne Niinimaa also scored his first playoff goal and added an assist on Blake's second to help New York gain home-ice advantage.
Game 3 is Monday night at Nassau Coliseum, where the Islanders had one of the NHL's best home records this season (25-11-4-1).
"To go home is great, but it's going to take an effort like that no matter where we play to continue to succeed," Islanders coach Steve Stirling said.
"Long Island is a tough place to play when the crowd's going, so we're looking forward to getting back and seeing our fans and having them push us through these next two games," said DiPietro, who four years ago became the first goaltender selected No. 1 overall in the NHL draft.
Disallowed goal
The closest the Lightning came to scoring was with just under 14 minutes to go, when Vincent Lecavalier kicked the puck into the net. The goal, which would've brought the Lightning within 2-1, was disallowed after officials viewed a video replay.
The Islanders were done in by two turnovers by Eric Cairns in a 3-0 loss in Game 1. And while Stirling insisted he didn't hold the defenseman responsible, Cairns didn't play Saturday -- replaced by Sven Butenschon.
Without help from the kind of mistakes Cairns made to set up two of Tampa Bay's three goals in the opener, the top-seeded Lightning struggled to create good scoring opportunities against DiPietro.
Tampa Bay was 0-for-7 on the power play.