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Islanders-Flyers Preview

Dec 8, 2009 - 6:01 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

New York (11-11-7) at Philadelphia (13-12-1), 7:00 p.m. EDT

A coaching change has yet to help the Philadelphia Flyers end their longest losing streak of the season. A visit from the New York Islanders might be what they need to do so.

The struggling Flyers look to avoid a sixth consecutive loss while trying for a 12th straight victory over the Islanders on Tuesday night.

Daniel Briere opened the scoring with an unassisted goal, but Philadelphia's slide continued with a 3-1 loss at Montreal on Monday. The Flyers (13-13-1), who've lost eight of nine, are 0-2 under coach Peter Laviolette, who replaced the fired John Stevens on Friday.

Briere tied captain Mike Richards for the team lead with his 11th goal and first in three games after being suspended for two and missing a third with the flu. However, Philadelphia has been outscored 19-5 during its current slide.

Though the Flyers remain winless under their new coach, players are optimistic the change could lead to positive results. Laviolette guided Carolina to the 2006 Stanley Cup and coached the Islanders to a pair of playoff appearances in two seasons on Long Island from 2001-03.

"It is going to take a little bit of time for us," Briere told the Flyers' official Web site. "Right now, we are going through the basics, the emotions and the new systems. But the mood is good and the guys are excited about it. We believe this is going to work."

Richards had a goal in Philadelphia's 2-1 win at New York on Nov. 25.

Though New York (11-11-7) is two points better than the Flyers, it's 0-8-3 against Philadelphia since a 4-3 home win Feb. 12, 2008. The Islanders are 0-6-1 at Philadelphia since winning 4-2 there April 7, 2007.

Brian Boucher stopped 10 shots Monday and fell to 2-5-0 with a 2.60 goals-against average. Boucher has started four of the last seven games, including a 28-save effort against the Islanders last month.

Boucher is 3-5-0 with a 2.64 GAA against New York, but Ray Emery could be back in net after allowing five goals in an 8-2 loss to Washington on Saturday. Emery is 11-8-1 with a 2.83 GAA this season and 4-0-1 with a 1.77 GAA all-time against the Islanders.

New York dropped to 1-2-0 on its five-game road trip with a 4-0 loss at Tampa Bay on Saturday. The Islanders went 0 for 6 on the power play and failed to convert on a 1 minute, 21 second 5-on-3 advantage in the first period.

"It obviously wasn't our night," said coach Scott Gordon, whose team is 2 for 37 on the power play during a 4-5-0 stretch.

Trent Hunter scored a power-play goal against Philadelphia last month and had two assists in New York's 4-1 win at Atlanta on Thursday. He has two goals and an assist in his last three games versus the Flyers.

Dwayne Roloson made 21 saves, but had his three-game winning streak snapped against the Lightning. Roloson is 9-3-5 with a 2.76 GAA on the season and 3-3-0 with a 3.56 GAA all-time versus the Flyers.

Backup and one-time Flyer Martin Biron could be in net trying to snap a three-game losing streak. He's 2-8-2 with a 3.04 GAA this season and 8-4-0 with two ties and a 1.70 GAA against his former team.