ELMONT, N.Y. — The Red Wings head into the All-Star break still searching for a lengthy win streak and concrete momentum.

The inability to string some victories together is costing the Wings a chance to move up the standings and make a solid playoff push in a rugged and deep Eastern Conference.

And time is slowly slipping away.

The New York Islanders, slumping as they've been (only one win in their last 11 games), didn't prove to be the tonic Friday many fans probably suspected they would be. The Islanders put together just enough offense to defeat the Wings, 2-0.

Anders Lee and Brock Nelson had the Islanders' goals, while goalie Ilya Sorokin stopped 22 shots.

Lee scored at 4 minutes, 44 seconds of the second period, giving the Islanders a 1-0 lead.

Nelson intercepted a puck along the boards. Nelson lifted a puck towards goaltender Magnus Hellberg, and Lee, prone on the ice, reached with his stick and deflected the puck past Hellberg for Lee's 18th goal.

Nelson extended the lead to 2-0 in the third period.

Nelson skated the puck to the high slot and snapped a shot that appeared to surprise Hellberg, who was screened with bodies in front of his crease. It was Nelson's 19th goal, at 4:31 of the third period, just after an ineffective Red Wings' power play.

Hellberg, giving Ville Husso a rare night off, stopped 26 shots but dropped his fifth of eight decisions (3-4-1).

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