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Jan 18, 2010 - 2:47 AM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

New Jersey (32-13-1) at New York (21-19-8), 2:00 p.m. EDT

Poor starts are a reason the New Jersey Devils have lost consecutive games for the first time in nearly two months. Losing Patrik Elias won't help them end the slump.

The Devils will try to withstand Elias' absence and salvage a winning five-game road trip Monday when they face the surging New York Islanders.

New Jersey (32-13-1) leads the Atlantic Division by four points over second-place Pittsburgh and trails Washington by one point for the top spot in the Eastern Conference - largely due to superb defensive play. The Devils have allowed a league-low 101 goals, as Martin Brodeur leads the NHL with six shutouts and owns a stellar 2.14 goals-against average.

However, Brodeur gave up a pair of first-period goals in a 4-3 loss at Phoenix on Thursday, then did so again in Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Colorado.

"We didn't start the way we wanted," Brodeur said after making 25 saves against the Avalanche. "You don't want to spot a team like that two goals. That's two games in a row we did that."

The Devils have dropped consecutive games for the first time since a season-high three-game slide Nov. 16-21. They'll have to try avoid matching that skid without Elias, the club's all-time leading scorer with 732 points and a member of the Czech Republic team that will compete at next month's Olympics in Vancouver.

The center, who has 26 points in 32 games this season, left on a stretcher during Saturday's second period after injuring his shoulder on a check by the Avalanche's Ryan Wilson. No penalty was called.

Elias, who will undergo further evaluation this week, was on the ice for about five minutes.

"I don't know exactly how he is," coach Jacques Lemaire said. "I do know he's not ready to play now. When he was hit, he lifted up his shoulder. I think Patrik was a little careless."

With Elias out, the Devils could use increased production from Zach Parise, who hasn't scored in three games after finding the net in each of the previous three. The left wing, who leads New Jersey with 20 goals and 47 points, had a goal in the Devils' 6-1 win over the Islanders on Nov. 28.

New Jersey has beaten the Islanders twice this season - both at home. This is the first visit to Nassau Coliseum of 2009-10 for the Devils, who have dropped five of seven visits there and have been outscored 11-3 in losing the last two.

New York (21-19-8) is looking to match its season-high four-game winning streak, established Oct. 28-Nov. 2.

The Islanders won for the fifth time in six tries Saturday, beating Northeast-leading Buffalo 3-2 in a shootout.

They may opt to give Rick DiPietro a second consecutive start after he made 31 saves through overtime and then turned aside five shooters in the tiebreaker Saturday - his first home game since a series of knee injuries limited him to five games in a span of more than a year.

"I was trying not to cry on the ice," DiPietro said. "That's the one thing I told myself. I wouldn't cry. It's an emotional time for me. It's been a long time coming, been a rough road. Just to get the win was amazing."

DiPietro has won his last two home starts against the Devils, posting a 1.93 GAA. However, he hasn't faced them on Long Island since Nov. 10, 2007.

If the Islanders decide to rest DiPietro, Dwayne Roloson would get the start. He's won his last four starts, and earned his first shutout of the season in Tuesday's 6-0 victory over Detroit, making 16 saves.