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Predators hope to stay hot, extend Islanders' road woes

Dec 13, 2010 - 4:07 PM (Sports Network) - The Nashville Predators will try to keep their recent surge going and they'll figure to have a good chance at a win tonight, when they host the lowly New York Islanders for a battle at Bridgestone Arena.

The Predators are coming off back-to-back wins and have a 5-0-1 record over their last six games.

The Islanders, meanwhile, have just one win in their last 20 outings, logging a pitiful 1-16-3 record over that span. Since its last victory, a 2-0 win over New Jersey on Nov. 26, New York has lost five straight in regulation.

New York has also lost 11 straight on the road and is 2-10-3 away from Long Island this season. The Isles last victory as the guest came in Tampa on Oct. 21.

The Predators, who are 6-1-5 as the host this year, kicked off a three-game homestand with Saturday's 3-0 victory over the Florida Panthers. Anders Lindback stopped 22 shots for the first shutout of his career in the win at Bridgestone Arena.

Lindback has started the last four games for Nashville while regular starter Pekka Rinne recovers from arthroscopic surgery to his left knee. The 22-year- old Swedish rookie has never faced the Islanders.

"The more he plays, he's just settling in really well," Predators head coach Barry Trotz said of Lindback. "I thought the guys did a good job, were very workmanlike, got a good start, played very disciplined. They wanted to help him get a shutout."

Ryan Suter had a goal and an assist while Shea Weber and Joel Ward also lit the lamp for the Predators on Saturday.

David Legwand missed Saturday's game and the Nashville forward is questionable for tonight. He returned from a nine-game absence due to a lower-body injury last Wednesday against Detroit, but left that game in the second period after aggravating the issue.

The Islanders were also in action on Wednesday and were dealt their fifth straight loss in a 5-4 regulation loss to Atlanta. Alexander Burmistrov scored the eventual game-winner late in the third period, lifting the Thrashers to the road victory at Nassau Coliseum.

Rob Schremp and Blake Comeau each had a goal and two assists for the Islanders. Matt Moulson had a goal and an assist for New York, which also got a goal from Matt Martin. Rick DiPietro turned aside 30-of-35 shots in another Islanders defeat.

"The hard work's there, the effort's there and that's the most frustrating part," DiPietro said. "I feel like I want to throw up right now. That's how the locker room feels, that's how I feel. I don't even know what to say."

The Islanders did beat Nashville in the only meeting between the clubs last year, notching a shootout victory in New York to end a five-game series losing streak. The Preds have still won four in a row and five of the last six meetings in Nashville.