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Islanders-Blues Preview

Nov 21, 2009 - 5:34 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

New York (8-6-7) at St. Louis (7-8-4), 8:00 p.m. EDT

The New York Islanders are coming off their first regulation loss in two weeks. It's been more than five years since they suffered that kind of defeat to the St. Louis Blues.

The Islanders look to bounce back as they continue their season-high seven-game road trip Saturday night against the Blues.

Jon Sim had a goal with an assist Friday night, but New York (8-7-7) blew a one-goal, third-period lead and fell 3-2 at Minnesota for its first regulation defeat since losing 2-1 at New Jersey on Nov. 6.

New York, 7-3-2 since losing nine of its first 10, earned at least one point in its previous five contests and is 2-1-2 on its current road swing.

"We've had a lot of good hockey," New York coach Scott Gordon said. "This was our first loss, and from my side of it very well could've been a win."

The Islanders have a chance to get back on track against the Blues (7-8-4). New York is 2-0-2 in the series since a 4-2 regulation loss at home on March 6, 2004. The Islanders are 4-0-1 with two ties at St. Louis since losing 4-1 there on Dec. 19, 1995.

Sean Bergenheim and Trent Hunter each had a goal while Bruno Gervais added two assists in New York's 5-2 win over St. Louis in the teams' only meeting last season.

Hunter and Gervais each had an assist Friday, while Sim has three points in his last two contests.

Martin Biron made 26 saves against the Wild, falling to 2-6-2 with a 2.85 goals-against average on the season. He's 0-6-1 with a 2.95 GAA against St. Louis, making it likely Dwayne Roloson could be in net for this contest.

Roloson is 6-1-5 with a 2.76 GAA this season and 9-3-1 with three ties and a 1.77 GAA all-time versus the Blues.

St. Louis avoided a third consecutive loss with a 3-2 overtime win over Phoenix on Thursday.

"You start to do the right things and people start playing with confidence," said St. Louis' Chris Mason, who made 34 saves. "Finally, we're starting to come out on the right end."

Defenseman Erik Johnson scored the winner, while T.J. Oshie and Keith Tkachuk each had a goal with an assist for the Blues, who improved to 2-2-0 on a season-high six-game homestand after getting outscored 6-2 over their previous two contests.

"The guys, they need to enjoy this a little bit," said Blues coach Andy Murray, whose team won for the second time in nine games. "We've had a tough time."

Tkachuk's goal snapped his 13-game streak without one, a drought that has played a part in the Blues being tied with Nashville for fewest goals in the league with 44. Tkachuk, though, has scored in four straight games against New York and has eight points in his last five against the Islanders.

Mason is 5-6-3 with a 2.25 GAA this season and 0-1-0 against the Islanders after allowing four goals on 33 shots in last season's loss in New York.

St. Louis could have forward Alex Steen available Saturday for the first time since he suffered a broken wrist in a 3-2 overtime loss at Phoenix on Oct. 15.