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Goal-happy Islanders seek to extend win streak vs. Senators

Feb 15, 2011 - 3:54 PM (Sports Network) - The New York Islanders will try to keep their offense rolling and pick up a fourth straight win when they visit the Ottawa Senators tonight at Scotiabank Place.

The Islanders have scored a total of 20 goals during a three-game winning streak and have lit the lamp 16 times in their last two games alone.

Despite the recent offensive explosion, the Islanders are currently in 14th place in the East and are ahead of only the Senators in the conference standings. New York has 47 points and is three in front of Ottawa.

While New York has tied a season high with three straight wins, Ottawa recently halted an 11-game losing streak -- the club's longest skid since the 1995-96 season. The Senators ended the epic slide with Saturday's win over Edmonton, which is the only team beneath Ottawa in the NHL standings.

After posting a 9-3 win in Friday's fight-filled home battle against Pittsburgh, the Isles recorded a wild 7-6 overtime victory Sunday in Buffalo. Michael Grabner scored with 2:05 left in overtime to complete his hat trick in dramatic fashion.

After New York killed off the remainder of a Buffalo power play that carried over from the third period into overtime, the Islanders finally put an end to a long afternoon.

Kyle Okposo's rink-wide pass from his own zone was knocked down by Sabres defenseman Andrej Sekera, but the blueliner was unable to control the bouncing puck and Grabner gathered, skated in and fired a shot by Ryan Miller on the stick side to give the Islanders the victory.

John Tavares and Milan Jurcina each had a goal and an assist for the Islanders, who have also won four of their last five.

"We're really starting to come together, and it's great to see," Tavares said.

Blake Comeau and Ty Wishart also tallied for New York, which got three-assist games from Okposo and Frans Nielsen. Mikko Koskinen allowed four goals on 14 shots before getting replaced by Al Montoya, who stopped 12-of-14 shots to pick up the win.

On Monday, Koskinen was sent to New York's AHl affiliate in Bridgeport to make room for Nathan Lawson, who was activated off injured reserve. Lawson has been out since Jan. 21 with an injured left knee and it's unclear if he or Montoya, who was acquired in a trade with Phoenix last week, will get the start tonight.

The Islanders have won two straight on the road, but are still just 10-16-3 as the visiting club this season.

Alex Kovalev registered two goals and set up Peter Regin's game-winner in the third period to lift the Senators to Saturday's 5-3 win in Edmonton. It was the first victory for Ottawa since a 6-3 victory over the Islanders on Jan. 13.

Milan Michalek and Bobby Butler also tallied for the Senators, who are now 2-12-3 since the calendar flipped to 2011. Brian Elliott made 15 saves to notch his first win since December 26.

"You can go around the room and it's a pretty sweet victory for everybody that's involved," said Ottawa defenseman Chris Phillips.

Ottawa captain Daniel Alfredsson missed his second straight game with a back injury on Saturday and is out indefinitely.

The Senators will try to end another losing streak tonight, having dropped their last five games on home ice. Ottawa, which will also host Boston in its next game on Friday, is just 9-15-4 as the home club this season.

After losing the first two meetings of the year against Ottawa, the Isles picked up a 5-3 home win versus the Senators on Feb. 5. The Sens have won six of eight overall against New York and the Islanders have dropped four straight in Ottawa.