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Sillinger, Hilbert help hand Flyers seventh straight loss

Jan 19, 2007 - 5:18 AM PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- Not even a four-day break could help rejuvenate the Philadelphia Flyers.

Mike Sillinger and Andy Hilbert scored 78 seconds apart early in the third period as the New York Islanders halted a skid of their own with a 4-2 triumph over the Flyers, who have lost seven straight games.

Idle since a 5-3 setback against Pittsburgh on Saturday, Philadelphia never led in this one, erasing a pair of deficits before succumbing in the final session. A former Flyer, Sillinger cashed in during a 5-on-3 power play at 3:27 to give the Islanders a 3-2 edge, and Hilbert converted at 4:45 for a two-goal bulge.

"It's nice to get the points and get the goals, but it doesn't matter who gets them as long as we get the wins," Sillinger said. "It's nice to have the power play click and it's nice to get on the scoreboard."

It was more than enough for Rick DiPietro, who stopped all seven shots he faced in the period and 29 overall.

Acquired from Philadelphia on December 20, Randy Robitaille tallied and All-Star Jason Blake also scored for New York, which had dropped three in a row and nine of 11.

"When you get moved from a club, you always want to do well against them," Robitaille said. "More importantly, it was two points that our club needed to have. We've been struggling a little bit of late."

"I thought we played good for 60 minutes tonight," Blake added. "Ricky played outstanding and everyone contributed."

Defenseman Randy Jones and Simon Gagne provided goals and captain Peter Forsberg recorded his 600th career assist for the Flyers, who fell to 3-14-4 at home and 3-12-2 against Atlantic Division rivals.

"It could have been a better night for that," the 33-year-old Forsberg said of his milestone. "It's good to reach it. I think it just means that I'm old."

Antero Niittymaki made 32 saves for Philadelphia, which has lost 17 of its last 20 contests and nine straight at the Wachovia Center.

"You just have to hang in there," said Niittymaki, who is winless since beating the Islanders on November 30. "It's been a long time since I have won a game. That's the way it is right now. I just have to keep battling hard and hopefully I will get that win sooner than later."

Robitaille opened the scoring at 8:16 of the first period, grabbing a loose puck on the right side and slipping it past Niittymaki for his seventh of the season. However, Jones drew Philadelphia even just over three minutes into the second with a slap shot from the left faceoff circle that found its way between DiPietro's pads for his first goal in 19 games.

During a power play later in the session, defenseman Sean Hill unleashed a one-timer from the blue line that deflected off Sillinger's stick and Blake's skate at 12:58, giving the Islanders a 2-1 edge.

"If the puck isn't going in, you have to do the little things," said Blake, who had not scored in his previous seven games. "It was one of those ugly ones that I needed. When you're not scoring, you've got to get to the net and hopefully get a break. It was fortunate to go in."

But the Flyers knotted the contest 81 seconds later as Gagne received a feed from Forsberg at the bottom of the right circle and swept the puck past DiPietro during a man advantage for his 22nd tally.

Entering with an 0-3-2 mark when tied after 40 minutes, New York took the lead for good during a two-man advantage early in the third. Miroslav Satan's shot from the right circle was stopped, but Sillinger was alone on the left side to tip in the rebound for his 15th of the season.

"We've struggled in the third period, and at the start of the game as well," Sillinger said. "We bounced back and played some good hockey."

The 5-on-3 was created when Flyers defenseman Derian Hatcher shot the puck over the glass for a delay-of-game penalty with teammate Joni Pitkanen already serving a holding infraction.

"The puck bounced and it was in the air," Philadelphia coach John Stevens said. "There were two Islanders there and I think Hatch and Simon reached for the puck. It looked like it hit sticks and went over the glass, but they deemed that it went over the glass."

"I don't know how good that rule is," Niittymaki said. "It looked like an accident and a funny bounce."

Hilbert doubled the lead shortly thereafter, converting a pass by defenseman Chris Campoli from the left side of the net. It was the last game before the All-Star break for the Islanders, who are third in the division with 48 points (22-21-4).

"If someone asked us if we would be one game over .500 at the All-Star break, I'd take those chances," New York coach Ted Nolan said. "Right now, we're in a good position to come back after the break and then it's a horse race down to the end."