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Sinking Islanders play host to Flyers

Dec 5, 2010 - 3:31 PM (Sports Network) - The Islanders have been unable to build any momentum since snapping the longest losing streak in club history. Things don't figure to get any easier with the Flyers coming to town.

Hoping to avoid its 17th loss in the last 18 games, New York goes for just its second victory in its last 19 clashes with Philadelphia this afternoon at Nassau Coliseum.

The Islanders endured a club-record 0-11-3 skid from Oct. 23-Nov. 24, an epic slide they finally halted with a 2-0 home victory over the Devils last Friday. However, the Isles have since been swept in a home-and-home set by the Rangers, losing a 6-5 home test on Thursday before a 2-0 setback the following night at Madison Square Garden.

After Rick DiPietro gave up all six goals on Long Island, Dwayne Roloson was sharper with 19 saves on 20 shots, but New York still lost its 10th straight road game.

"We played a smart road game, we did a lot of good things," Islanders' interim head coach Jack Capuano said. "We moved the puck and we kept a good team to a limited amount of chances. We had opportunities on some rushes and we tried the extra move or extra pass but didn't get enough pucks to the net."

Defenseman Bruno Gervais missed his second straight game due to a broken left cheekbone, while captain Doug Weight sat out his sixth in a row with back spasms.

New York, which is last in the NHL with 15 points, has lost six of its last seven at home and is just 3-5-2 as the host. The Isles have dropped eight of their last nine at home to the Flyers, who had won 15 in a row in this series before a 6-4 setback at the Coliseum on April 1 of last season.

Philadelphia has picked up right where it left off though, winning its 11th straight at home over New York on Oct. 30, 6-1, before a 2-1 triumph on Long Island on Nov. 6.

DiPietro, who made 29 saves in the shut out over the Devils, allowed all six goals in Philadelphia, while Roloson stopped 24 shots in the home loss.

The Flyers will be looking to put together a winning streak today after snapping an 0-2-1 slide with yesterday's 5-3 victory over the Devils. Mike Richards had the go-ahead goal in the third period and Jeff Carter finished with a goal and two assists.

"We played hard. I thought we deserved to win the game. Still, we can do some things better, like sustain a lot more pressure in their zone," said Richards, who has seven goals and 14 points over is last 12 games.

"We capitalized on some of our chances, kept it simple and got some pucks to the net. We got some redirections and got some lucky goals."

James Van Riemsdyk scored for the fourth time in seven games, while Claude Giroux and Danny Briere added goals of their own. November's Rookie of the Month Sergei Bobrovsky made 23 saves in the win.

Bobrovsky has been in net for both victories over the Islanders this year, stopping 61-of-63 shots faced, while Richards has 12 goals and 31 points in 34 career games against them.