UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) -- New York Islanders goalie Felix Potvin knew something was up when he was told he was starting Sunday night, then found coach Butch Goring waiting for him in the hallway just after warmups to tell him he was scratched.

	Islanders players Kenny Jonsson and Tim Connolly congratulate Brad Isbister, right, after his first-period goal.

And shortly after the game, he was told he was traded.

In his stead, Roberto Luongo turned aside 46 shots as the New York Islanders enjoyed the their highest offensive output of the season in a 5-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils.

Potvin was sent to the Vancouver Canucks along with second- and third-round picks in the 2000 entry draft in exchange for goalie Kevin Weekes, center Dave Scatchard and right wing Bill Muckalt.

"It was something I guess that was coming since training camp," Potvin said. "It's going to make it tougher because it was so close to Christmas."

Because regular backup goalie Wade Flaherty was lost for the season with a shoulder injury, Luongo was called up from the minors to serve as Potvin's backup. General manager Mike Milbury's hand was forced because the team had no other backup in place.

With minor-leaguer Stephen Valiquette unable to dress in time to back up Luongo, Potvin sat on the bench.

"I got a call from Mike and was told that Potvin couldn't play tonight," Goring said.

Defenseman Jamie Heward was stunned to see Potvin on the bench at the start of the game.

"I was kind of surprised," he said. "I sit next to the backup on the bench, and I looked over and it was Felix. I said, 'You were supposed to start. Are you hurt?' And he said 'No, I think I've been traded.' "

And as for Luongo, he was shocked that he was told he was starting on such short notice.

"I was told after warmup that I'd be playing," said Luongo, who picked up his second win in the NHL. "I didn't know if I'd be ready, but I came out of it OK. I knew Felix had a little groin injury before the game, but I didn't know anything else."

Niklas Andersson had a goal and two assists to lead the Islanders to their first home victory in more than six weeks.

Olli Jokinen and Brad Isbister each had a goal and an assist and Gino Odjick and Tim Connolly also scored for the Islanders, who have a modest two-game unbeaten streak (1-0-1).

Andersson, recalled from the minors Friday, also had a goal and an assist Saturday night.

The Islanders improved to a league-worst 3-10-2 record at Nassau Coliseum.

The Devils got two goals from Claude Lemieux and a short- handed score from John Madden. New Jersey's longest winning streak of the season was snapped at three games. Martin Brodeur stopped 24 shots.

New York grabbed the lead three minutes into the game when Isbister was sent in on a breakaway on a power play and beat Brodeur high with a wrist shot.

Connolly made it 2-0 at 3:50 of the second period when he got past Devils defenseman Lyle Odelein with an inside-outside move, cut in on Brodeur and roofed a backhand.

Lemieux cut the Islanders lead in half at 8:31 when he tipped Bobby Holik's pass from the left point past Luongo. He tied the game 92 seconds later on a stuff shot from the right crease.

Odjick restored New York's lead at 16:44 when his attempted pass from behind the goal line banked in off Brodeur's left skate.

Jokinen scored his first goal since Oct. 27, a span of 22 games, and second of the season, 79 seconds into the final period on a slap shot from the high slot. Andersson added a goal at 5:51 on a shot from the left circle.

Madden scored on a short-handed rush with a slap shot from outside the left circle at 10:59.