Islanders 3 - 2 Sharks
Final - 2OT
  for this game

Isles aim to halt epic slide in San Jose

Dec 10, 2013 - 4:44 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The New York Islanders are inching closer to matching the longest losing streak in team history.

The Isles hope to snap their 10-game slide with their first victory in San Jose in nearly 11 years on Tuesday night as they resume a five-game road trip versus the Sharks.

Since their last victory on Nov. 16, the Islanders have gone 0-8-2 for the club's longest skid since a franchise-worst 14-game skid (0-11-3) from Oct. 23-Nov. 24, 2010.

New York has been outscored 13-3 over the first three contests of its road trip and dropped a 5-2 decision to the Anaheim Ducks on Monday night.

Thomas Vanek and John Tavares each had a goal and an assist for the Islanders, while Anders Nilsson gave up all five goals on 31 shots.

"Did some good things but like I said in the last few weeks, good things aren't what we want," said Tavares. "We want wins, points, and to move up in the standings. That's what matters. It's disappointing once again."

Set to wrap up games on consecutive nights, Kevin Poulin could get the start tonight for New York and it would be the first of his career versus the Sharks.

Poulin has lost all seven of his road starts this season, posting a 3.47 goals against average.

The Islanders have lost four straight in San Jose since their last victory there on Feb. 19, 2003.

The Sharks, meanwhile, have won four straight overall in this series -- the past two beyond regulation -- and are 10-2-0 with a tie in the previous 13 meetings.

San Jose picked up a sixth victory in a row when it opened a four-game road trip with a win at Toronto on Dec. 3, but lost the final three contests of the swing. That includes a 3-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Sunday.

Patrick Marleau scored the Sharks' lone goal, while Antti Niemi allowed two goals on just 12 shots in the setback.

"The two chances they had, they buried," Sharks captain Joe Thornton told NHL.com. "That's the way it goes sometimes."

San Jose will now play its next two games at home and is 10-1-2 as the hosting club on the season. Prior to the recently-completed road trip, the Sharks went perfect on a five-game homestand from Nov. 21-30.

Niemi has faced the Islanders only once before and gave up three goals on 12 shots in 23 minutes of work. He ended up without a decision.






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