• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Lightning aim to get on track against Islanders

Dec 6, 2011 - 3:54 PM (Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Lightning have fallen on hard times recently and look to get back on track when they continue a four-game road trip tonight against the New York Islanders at Nassau Coliseum.

The Lightning have dropped four straight, six of eight and eight of their last 11 games, including Monday's 4-2 loss at Ottawa in the opener of the swing. Martin St. Louis and Bruno Gervais each scored for the Lightning, who gave up three goals in the third period and fell to 4-9-2 as the guest.

"We deserve better but we're in the business of winning games and we're not doing that right now," said St. Louis. "Does that mean we quit, no, it's adversity and little by little you climb yourself out of the hole."

Dwayne Roloson made 27 saves in Tampa Bay's third straight road loss. The Lightning are second to last in the Southeast Division -- four points ahead of Carolina. They will also pay visits to the Rangers and Flyers on the trek.

Tuesday's game marks the 21st birthday of the franchise, which joined the NHL as an expansion team back on Dec. 6, 1990. Lightning defenseman Pavel Kubina missed Monday's game against Ottawa with a lower-body injury and his status is day-to-day.

New York is coming off a successful road trip in which it went 3-0-1 and will open a three-game homestand this evening versus Tampa Bay, Chicago and Pittsburgh. It is 5-6-2 as the host and winless in three straight games at Nassau Coliseum.

The Islanders recorded a 5-4 win at Dallas on Saturday thanks to a career-high four goals from Matt Moulson. Dylan Reese tallied the other goal for the Islanders, who got three assists from P.A. Parenteau and John Tavares. The Isles are still last in the Atlantic Division, however.

"You can score as many goals as you want, but if you lose it doesn't really mean much," said Moulson, who has 13 goals on the season. "I'm just happy we held on in the third. It was a good team win."

Moulson has goals in a career-best four straight games.

Rick DiPietro started in net for New York, but left the game after the second period with a groin injury. He allowed four goals on 21 shots before exiting. Al Montoya came on to stop all 13 shots he saw in the third period. DiPietro is questionable for tonight's game. Isles right wing Michael Grabner is questionable with a similar injury.

New York has scored first in four straight games and is 7-1-3 when scoring first, as opposed to its 1-10-2 mark when allowing the game's initial goal.

The Islanders and Lightning have split a pair of matchups this season, with each team holding serve as the host. New York has won five of the past seven encounters with Tampa Bay, losers in seven of nine trips to Uniondale.