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Yashin expected to return when Islanders host Rangers

Mar 8, 2007 - 4:55 PM NY Rangers (32-27-7) at NY Islanders (33-23-10) 7:30 pm EST

UNIONDALE, New York (Ticker) -- Looking to settle a score with their arch-rival, the New York Islanders could get an extra boost.

Captain Alexei Yashin is expected to return to the lineup Thursday when the Islanders conclude a home-and-home series with the New York Rangers.

The 33-year-old Yashin has missed his last 15 games with a knee injury. Playing in his fifth season with the Islanders, he has 13 goals and 25 assists in 42 contests.

Thanks to a 12-2-6 stretch since January 18, the Islanders are in seventh place in the Eastern Conference, two points in back of the Tampa Bay Lightning and three ahead of the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Carolina Hurricanes.

Goaltender Rick DiPietro needed to be at his acrobatic best for the Islanders on Monday, making a career-high 56 saves in a 2-1 shootout loss to the Rangers.

Petr Prucha tied the game in the third period with his 16th goal and Matt Cullen netted the clincher in the shootout as the Rangers snapped a five-game slide against their neighbors, which tied their longest drought in the series.

The Rangers have won three of their last four contests and are 11th in the East, but just two points out of the final postseason berth.

In addition to losing Brendan Shanahan (concussion), the Rangers also will be without Marcel Hossa for at least three weeks with a sprained left knee ligament. He leads the team with eight goals since the All-Star break.