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Coyotes host Isles in the desert

Jan 7, 2012 - 4:29 PM (Sports Network) - The Phoenix Coyotes will try to get back on track this evening when they host the cellar-dwelling New York Islanders for an interconference battle at Jobing.com Arena.

The Coyotes, who are currently seeded 11th in the Western Conference, have lost two straight and six of their last seven games heading into tonight. This evening's tilt is the lone home test for Phoenix in an eight-game stretch. The Coyotes wrapped a four-game swing with a 1-0 setback in Los Angeles on Thursday and will begin a three-game trip following tonight's contest.

Despite failing to score a goal, Phoenix was able to record a point in the 1-0 setback in Los Angeles. Jonathan Quick notched his sixth shutout of the season for the Kings and Drew Doughty scored 38 seconds into overtime to lift LA to victory.

Mike Smith was denied the victory despite stopping 27-of-28 shots for the Coyotes. It was Smith's second game back after missing two weeks with a groin injury.

"Smith was unbelievable," said Coyotes captain Shane Doan. "We just have to find a way to score."

The Coyotes have lost their last three home games and have actually been better on the road this season. Phoenix is 7-8-3 as the host and 12-9-2 on the road.

Phoenix will get forward Raffi Torres back tonight after he served a two-game suspension for an illegal hit on Minnesota's Nate Prosser. Defenseman Adrian Aucoin is questionable after getting hit in the face with a puck on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Islanders, who are last in the East with just 34 points, had won three in a row before losing last night in Anaheim. Bobby Ryan scored twice as the Ducks rallied for a 4-2 win at the Honda Center.

The Islanders had taken a 2-1 lead 6:20 into the third as Kyle Okposo scored on a feed from Jonathan Tavares in front, but Anaheim scored the next three goals.

Matt Martin had the other goal for the Islanders, while Evgeni Nabokov was tagged for all four goals on 20 shots.

"We have to bounce back and forget about this," said New York head coach Jack Capuano. "We let one slip away here tonight and that's not acceptable."

In addition to losing the game, Isles forward Marty Reasoner left Friday's contest with a broken right thumb and will be sidelined indefinitely.

New York is 6-9-3 as the visiting team this year and is closing out a three- game road trip tonight.

The Coyotes and Islanders have split the last six meetings against each other and the last two encounters ended in shootouts. Phoenix is 3-1-1 with a tie in the last six matchups in the desert.