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Panthers try to avoid season-sweep by Islanders

Mar 17, 2007 - 3:24 PM NY Islanders (34-26-10) at Florida (29-29-13) 7:30 pm EDT

SUNRISE, Florida (Ticker) -- Florida Panthers coach Jacques Martin could use a little extra help from other scoring weapons.

The Panthers attempt to win for the seventh time in 10 games and keep their playoff hopes alive Saturday in their final meeting of the season against the New York Islanders.

The good news for Martin is the production from the line of Stephen Weiss, Nathan Horton and Martin Gelinas, who have combined for 18 goals and 20 assists in their last 12 contests.

Horton scored twice and Weiss added the other tally as the Panthers took 45 shots in Thursday's 5-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres.

The league's third-winningest goaltender (479), Ed Belfour can set a franchise record with his 23rd consecutive start for the Panthers, who are seven points behind the Islanders and Carolina Hurricanes (35-29-8) for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot.

The Islanders have dropped five of their last seven contests since acquiring Ryan Smyth from the Edmonton Oilers on February 27. He has two goals and four assists for his new team.

New York remains in an extremely tight race for a playoff spot, holding a one-point edge on the New York Rangers (34-28-9) and the Toronto Maple Leafs (34-28-9), and two in front of the Montreal Canadiens (35-31-6).

Netminder Rick DiPietro sat out the past two games with a stiff neck and is listed as day-to-day. Backup Mike Dunham has surrendered 10 goals in back-to-back defeats to Montreal on Tuesday and the Ottawa Senators two days later.

The Islanders have won all three encounters against Florida this season, including a pair of shootouts. The teams have not met since December 9.