Vanbiesbrouck

NEW YORK -- New York Islanders goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck denied a New York Post report Tuesday that said he "told confidants he wants to be traded to a playoff contender before the March 13 trade deadline."

Vanbiesbrouck told his teammates and Islanders coach Butch Goring after Tuesday's morning skate that he does not want to be traded and has never told anyone he does. He made the statements in the Islanders' locker room with the Post reporter present.

One of the teams the Post reported Vanbiesbrouck was interested in is the Ottawa Senators, whom the Islanders played Tuesday night. Vancouver was also listed as a possibility.

Before Tuesday, the Islanders were 12-18-5-2 and had the lowest point total in the NHL (31).

Vanbiesbrouck, an unrestricted free agent after this season, was traded to the Islanders from Philadelphia last June. He is 7-20-5 with a 2.97 goals-against average.