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Flyers-Islanders Preview

Nov 24, 2009 - 11:01 PM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Philadelphia (12-8-1) at New York (9-8-7), 7:00 p.m. EDT

Dwayne Roloson is certainly making his case to be the New York Islanders' No. 1 goaltender. Setting a franchise record for saves should help, as would a drought-halting win over the Philadelphia Flyers.

Roloson will likely be in net Wednesday night when the Islanders return to Nassau Coliseum looking to avoid an 11th consecutive loss to the high-scoring Flyers.

To find a solution to their dimming goaltender situation, the Islanders (9-8-7) signed Roloson and Martin Biron to add depth as franchise goalie Rick DiPietro continues to recover from a knee injury that has sidelined him since January.

Roloson has gone 7-2-5 with a 2.86 goals-against average, while Biron - who spent the last two-plus seasons in Philadelphia - has a 2.85 GAA but only a 2-6-2 record.

Roloson, who turned 40 last month, came up big in Monday's 4-3 overtime win at Toronto, making 58 saves - 23 in the third period. Roloson's performance eclipsed DiPietro's previous team record by two saves, as he became the first netminder to make that many since Ron Tugnutt had 70 for Quebec on March 21, 1991.

"To me, it's just another night, another game," said Roloson, who helped New York conclude a 3-2-2 road trip. "It doesn't matter to me whether it's one shot or 100 shots, I've got to do the same things, try to give my team a chance to win."

Roloson has certainly done that at home, going 4-0-2 with a 2.26 GAA. He's won his last two meetings with the Flyers but has a career 3.56 GAA against them, and Philadelphia (12-8-1) is third in the league this season with 3.38 goals per game.

The Islanders have lost all 10 meetings with the Flyers - two in shootouts - since a 4-3 home win Feb. 12, 2008. Philadelphia has outscored New York 36-18 in that span, though the Atlantic Division foes haven't met this season.

Each team has 25 points, but the Flyers are looking to avoid losing four straight for the first time since dropping their first six last season.

Philadelphia's comeback from a three-goal, third-period deficit fell short in a 5-4 loss at Colorado on Monday night.

"It was gut-check time and we need to answer the bell," defenseman Chris Pronger said. "The way we played in the third period is the way we have to play each and every period in each and every game."

Danny Briere has been a bright spot of late, getting five goals with four assists over the last seven games, but he won't be available due to a two-game suspension he received Tuesday for a late hit on Colorado's Scott Hannan.

Briere, leading the Flyers with 10 goals, also must sit out Friday at Buffalo.