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Islanders, Lightning aim to end three-game losing streaks

Mar 20, 2007 - 1:45 PM NY Islanders (34-27-10) at Tampa Bay(39-30-4) 7:30 pm EDT

TAMPA, Florida (Ticker) -- The New York Islanders are watching their playoff hopes slip away.

The Islanders will try to stop their three-game losing streak when they face the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday.

The Islanders are tied for ninth place in the Eastern Conference with Toronto (34-28-10) and Montreal (36-31-6), two behind defending champion Carolina (36-29-8) for the final postseason spot.

New York is coming off an 8-5 setback to the Florida Panthers as goaltender Mike Dunham was beaten four times in the third period.

With top netminder Rick DiPietro still sidelined due to neck stiffness, New York has allowed an eye-popping 18 goals during its three-game slide. DiPietro will be a game-time decision.

Tampa Bay also would like to end a three-game losing streak following a 7-1 defeat to the Washington Captials on Sunday. Defensemen Filip Kuba netted the lone tally in the loss.

Despite the setback, the Lightning still hold a one-point lead over the seventh-place New York Rangers (36-28-9).

Tampa Bay center Vincent Lecavalier has four goals and six assists against the Islanders. He had his seven-game point streak ended in Sunday's loss.