• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Isles, Flames seek to extend recent hot streaks

Jan 3, 2011 - 4:13 PM (Sports Network) - A pair of once-struggling teams will both be trying to continue recent hot streaks tonight, when the Calgary Flames host the New York Islanders at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

The Islanders are 14th out of 15 teams in the Eastern Conference, but have won two straight and posted a 6-1-1 record over their last eight games. Meanwhile, Calgary is occupying the same spot in the West standings, but the Flames enter tonight riding their longest winning streak of the season.

New York had just two wins in a 21-game stretch from late October to mid- December, but the club has rebounded to rattle off six wins in its last eight trips to the ice.

The Isles posted an impressive victory Friday night in Detroit, beginning a five-game road trip with an overtime victory over the Red Wings. Even with that win, however, the Islanders still own a dismal 4-12-3 record on the road this season.

P.A. Parenteau scored the game-winner with 63 seconds left in overtime to give his Islanders a 4-3 decision at Joe Louis Arena. Parenteau banged home a cross-ice pass from John Tavares as the Islanders found themselves on a power play during the extra period when a frustrated Henrik Zetterberg was called for a holding penalty after missing a wide open net.

Tavares ended the game with a goal and two assists for the red-hot Islanders. Matt Moulson and Jesse Joensuu each scored for New York and Dwayne Roloson stopped 38-of-41 shots in the victory.

"It's good way to finish out," Roloson said. "Any time you play two teams like we did it takes a lot tenacious work."

The victory turned out to be the last for Roloson with the Islanders, who traded the netminder to Tampa Bay on Saturday for defenseman Ty Wishart. Roloson went 6-13-1 with a 2.64 goals-against average in 20 starts for New York, while Wishart was originally the 16th overall pick of the 2006 draft by San Jose.

The Isles expect to have defenseman Jack Hillen back in the lineup tonight. He missed Friday's game to be with his wife Caitlin for the birth of their first child.

Calgary has won its last four games and tonight the Flames will try to record their first five-game winning streak in a year. The club is 2-0 since general manager Darryl Sutter resigned on Tuesday and was replaced on an interim basis by Jay Feaster.

The Flames picked up their most recent victory Saturday evening in Edmonton. Miikka Kiprusoff stopped 16 shots to help Calgary edge the rival Oilers, 2-1, at Rexall Place.

Mark Giordano and Tim Jackman each scored a goal for the Flames, who last won five in a row from Dec. 28-Jan. 5 of last season.

"We had a good, solid start to our game," said Calgary head coach Brent Sutter. "When you get all the shots we did and hold your opponents to three, you're doing something right. We carried that on for the rest of the game and were able to grab the two points."

Calgary has won two straight and five of its last six on home ice and is 11-7-0 as the host this year. Following tonight, the Flames will play five of their next six games on the road.

New York recorded a 3-2 home win in the lone meeting between the club's last year and has taken three of the past four matchups. However, the Islanders have lost seven of their last nine at Calgary.