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Winded Flyers put point streak on the line versus Islanders

Mar 26, 2011 - 3:12 PM (Sports Network) - Playing in a club-record four straight shootout contests has winded the Philadelphia Flyers a little bit as they try to prepare for the playoffs. A meeting with the New York Islanders could put some jump back into their step.

The Flyers aim to extend an eight-game point streak with a fifth straight victory over the Islanders tonight at Nassau Coliseum.

Philadelphia is 4-0-4 in its last eight games, including 1-0-3 in their last four that have all gone beyond regulation. The Flyers have dropped consecutive games to two of the Eastern Conference's top teams, a 5-4 setback to the Capitals on Tuesday before Thursday's 2-1 loss to the Penguins.

Earning at least a point has been critical for Philadelphia, which leads Washington and Pittsburgh by two points for the East's top seed. The Flyers do have two games in hand on both clubs though.

The Flyers managed 20 shots versus the Penguins to match a season low, getting a regulation goal from Mike Richards and 30 saves by rookie Sergei Bobrovsky, who rebounded after getting pulled early from Tuesday's loss to Washington.

"We didn't play good the whole game, not just the third period. We didn't have a shot on net for I don't know how long," said Flyers defenseman Andrej Meszaros. "Luckily we had [Bobrovsky]. He kept us in the game. He was unbelievable, but we can't have those kind of games close to the playoffs."

Bobrovsky has been in net for all four games this year versus the Islanders, going 4-0 with a 1.72 goals-against average. Brian Boucher, who was decent in relief of Bobrovsky on Tuesday, is 4-6-0 with a 2.90 GAA versus New York.

Philadelphia stands a good chance of getting its first victory in three games tonight given that it has won 19 of its last 20 overall versus New York as well as nine of its last 10 trips to Long Island.

The last meeting between the teams on Feb. 24 did go past regulation, with Meszaros' tally at 4:42 of overtime lifting the Flyers. Bobrovsky ended with 32 saves.

The Flyers pelted Islanders goaltender Al Montoya with 43 shots in his first ever appearance against Philadelphia. Montoya took a tough-luck loss on Thursday, making 32 stops in a 2-1 setback to the Thrashers.

John Tavares had the lone goal for the Islanders, who returned home after a 2-1-2 road trip and had a five-game point streak at home end (4-0-1).

"It seemed like we were behind the play the whole night, just a little sluggish," Tavares said.

New York, which is 13th overall in the East, will be without defenseman Andrew MacDonald for the rest of the season due to a right hip injury, but is eligible to have forward Trevor Gillies back in the lineup.

Gillies has missed 19 of New York's last 20 games due to suspension, getting a nine-game ban for an incident versus the Penguins on Feb. 13 before netting a 10-game penalty in his first game back from that suspension for a hit to the head versus Minnesota on March 2.