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Islanders-Flyers Preview

Mar 8, 2010 - 5:11 PM By JON PALMIERI STATS Editor

New York (26-31-8) at Philadelphia (34-26-4), 7:30 p.m. EDT

New York Islanders coach Scott Gordon believes his team will eventually turn the tables on the Philadelphia Flyers. Judging by each club's recent play, it won't happen anytime soon.

Philadelphia looks to extend the NHL's longest active win streak over one team to 15 games when the Islanders visit the Wachovia Center on Tuesday night.

The Flyers (34-26-4) have continued their mastery of the Islanders (26-31-8) this season, winning four meetings to remain perfect in the series since a 4-2 loss at Nassau Coliseum on Feb. 12, 2008. New York has been outscored 48-23 during the 14-game skid, managing two goals or fewer 12 times.

The latest matchup resulted in a 2-1 Flyers home victory Jan. 30.

"They've obviously had a good run on us," said Gordon, 0-8-2 against Philadelphia as coach of the Islanders. "It's only a matter of time before it turns the other way."

Strong play since Peter Laviolette was named coach Dec. 4 has put the Flyers in position to reach the playoffs for the third straight season. They are 21-15-3 under Laviolette and moved to 6-1-1 in their last eight with a 3-1 victory over visiting Toronto on Sunday night.

Simon Gagne and Daniel Briere scored 76 seconds apart in the second period and Michael Leighton made 27 saves as Philadelphia won its fourth in a row at home, strengthening its grip on sixth place in the Eastern Conference.

"They're all important now," Gagne said. "Every game is a must win, with (the sixth through ninth-place teams so close together). We need to keep winning, and stay in control."

Gagne, who missed 24 games early in the season after hernia surgeries, has scored four goals in the past four games.

"He's a natural goal scorer, that was a big goal he scored for us," Laviolette said. "Simon has a role on this team, it's to put the puck in the back of the net, play some good two-way hockey, and bury some goals. If you're going to be successful as a team, it's a team sport, everybody has roles and everybody has a job.

"When you get everyone playing up to their potential, then you can become a very good team."

Also contributing offensively is center Jeff Carter, who scored eight goals in his last eight games to give him a team-high 30. Carter has four goals and six assists during an eight-game point streak against the Islanders.

New York is playing itself out of the playoff race, losing 11 of 14 to drop to 14th in the East. Only Toronto and league-worst Edmonton have fewer points than the Islanders.

Coming off a 6-3 loss at Atlanta two days earlier, the Islanders were better at home Saturday against Boston but not good enough to avoid a 3-2 loss.

Gordon said his club didn't match the Bruins' sense of urgency in the first period, and that mental mistakes remain a problem.

"I'm tired of it," Gordon said. "It's going to stop. I've addressed it with the team."

Rookie center John Tavares continues to struggle, failing to score a goal for the 17th straight game. He has two goals and six assists in his last 33 contests.

A weak power play also has been an issue for the Islanders, who have gone 5 for 44 with the man advantage over the last 12 games.