Okposo Reaches A Career Milestone

The All-Star break apparently gave Kyle Okposo the rest he needed to get back in form.

On Tuesday (2/1) night Kyle played his best game since returning from injury while leading the Islanders to an encouraging win. In the team's first game back from the hiatus, Kyle's sixth this season, he scored two goals and an assist. The Islanders won 4-1 in Atlanta against a fairly listless Thrashers team.

With the three points, he now has 100 for his career.

At first, defenseman Travis Hamonic looked as if he was going to be the story of the evening. With his team down 1-0, he netted his first career goal early in the second period. But Kyle rewrote the narrative as he reached the first significant step in hopefully rewriting the franchise's record books.

"It started to weigh on me a little bit, but it felt really nice to get that one," he said about his mini goal drought since returning. Okposo had mustered only one assist his first five games.

The goal seemed to awaken something in the forward, as he charged on just one minute later and assisted on a P.A. Parenteau goal. But Kyle wasn't content with stopping there.

His third point came at 11:19 of the third period, a delightful 2-on-1 goal aided by this year's best story, Michael Grabner. It was Kyle's third career three point game.

Unfortunately for Islanders fans, it seems as if Okposo reaches his milestones on the road. After the game, MSG Network's Rob Carlin took Kyle down memory lane, recalling his first NHL goal. That one was scored in New Jersey.

If he keeps having nights like this one, though, I don't suppose we'll hear too many complaints from the Long Island faithful.

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News and Notes:

- Kyle became the 70th Islander in history to score at least 100 points with the franchise.

- Young goaltender Kevin Poulin recorded his third career NHL win, saving 25 shots and lowering his Goals Against Average to 2.37.

- John Tavares netted two assists, and looks to be next to break the century mark for points, currently having 92.

- Ex-Islander Freddy Meyer scored Atlanta's lone goal, though his team threatened for more in the first period and were denied by both Poulin and his goalposts.