Islanders 4 - 3 Hurricanes
Final - 2OT
  for this game

Isles try to push win streak to 3 in clash with 'Canes

Jan 3, 2012 - 3:56 PM (Sports Network) - The New York Islanders will shoot for their first three- game winning streak since the opening week of the season when they visit the Carolina Hurricanes for tonight's clash at RBC Center.

The Islanders began the season with a home loss to Florida before going on a three-game winning streak from Oct. 10-15. New York has posted four two-game win streaks since then, including its recent home victories over Calgary and Edmonton.

The Hurricanes, meanwhile, have lost two of their last three contests and enter this evening tied with the Islanders for last place in the Eastern Conference.

Carolina has dominated the Islanders in recent years, winning six straight and 10 of the last 12 encounters between the clubs. The Hurricanes are 14-2-2 in the last 18 meetings overall and 5-0-1 in the six previous matchups in Raleigh.

After notching a 3-1 win over the Flames on Thursday, the Islanders were able to record a 4-1 decision Saturday against the Oilers. Matt Moulson registered a goal and two assists to help New York down Edmonton at Nassau Coliseum.

P.A. Parenteau and John Tavares picked up a score and helper each for the Islanders, who had lost three straight before beating Calgary and Edmonton.

Evgeni Nabokov stopped 28-of-29 shots for his second straight win. The Isles also went 2-for-3 on the power play, while killing all four of Edmonton's chances with the man advantage.

"Goaltending and special teams were huge factors in this game," said Isles head coach Jack Capuano. "You talk about a total team effort, one that we have to do every game to win, we did that tonight."

New York, which is just 5-8-3 as the visiting team this year, is kicking off a three-game road trip tonight and will also visit Anaheim and Phoenix during the swing.

The Hurricanes had won three of four entering Saturday's game in Tampa, but the Lightning downed Carolina by a 5-2 score. Steven Stamkos recorded a hat trick to lead the Bolts, who scored three unanswered goals in the third period to break a 2-2 tie.

Jay Harrison and Justin Faulk scored for the Hurricanes, while Cam Ward was dented for all five goals on 32 shots.

"You need to be ready to play three periods," Hurricanes head coach Kirk Muller said. "Tampa was ready in the third and we weren't. They outplayed us."

The Hurricanes have won three straight home games and are 9-10-2 as the host this season. Carolina will also Buffalo on Friday to complete a brief two-game homestand.






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