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Islanders-Panthers Preview

Nov 26, 2015 - 4:40 PM The New York Islanders have played mostly lackluster hockey for nearly a month, but they showed a new edge in their last victory.

The Florida Panthers are just looking for a strong finish to what has been a disastrous homestand.

New York will try to build more momentum Friday night when it visits the Panthers.

The Islanders are 5-6-2 over their last 13 games, scoring twice on 35 power plays in the past 11 while giving up 10 power-play goals on 32 chances in the same span. New York is also 2 for 26 on the power play in road games this season.

The Islanders looked better in a 3-1 victory against visiting Philadelphia on Wednesday, however, outshooting the Flyers 36-18 for their second-best differential this season.

"It was one of our better games defensively," coach Jack Capuano said. "We didn't give them too much."

New York (11-8-3) also matched Philadelphia's physicality, racking up 20 penalty minutes. Matt Martin squared off with Wayne Simmonds while Nick Leddy took on Claude Giroux, and those two fights were one fewer than the Islanders had participated in all season.

"We needed a good, hard, physical game like that," said Casey Cizikas, who scored his third goal. "Those games are fun. When they get testy like that, when they get physical like that, that's what makes the game of hockey so much fun. I think we thrived off of that."

Kyle Okposo scored his fifth, giving him two goals to go along with eight assists in his last nine games. He'll be trying to extend a personal seven-game point streak in this series.

Florida (8-9-4) has lost three in a row after falling 3-1 to Los Angeles on Monday, the third time it has been held to one goal on this five-game homestand.

The Panthers outshot the Kings 34-32 but gave up an 18-4 advantage in the first period. They've been outshot 468-371 over the first 40 minutes compared to a 226-192 advantage in the final period.

"The first 20 (minutes) was real bad, and that cost us the game," coach Gerard Gallant said.

Roberto Luongo made 21 saves in relief of Al Montoya, who left in the first period after taking a shot to the shoulder and head. The Panthers didn't provide an update on Montoya's status.

"I think something got him in the back of the head or neck," Gallant said. "He was pretty sore."

Luongo owns a 3.08 goals-against average in his last five starts against the Islanders, while Jaroslav Halak is 9-2-0 with a 1.89 GAA against the Panthers.

Jaromir Jagr leads Florida with eight goals but has scored once in his last six games. He has one goal in his past 11 against the Islanders.

New York captain John Tavares has seven goals and six assists in 10 career games in Sunrise.

The Panthers have won four of the last six meetings with the teams combining for 38 goals.