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Islanders continue Western Canada road trip, face Canucks

Jan 8, 2008 - 2:41 PM NY Islanders (20-17-4) at Vancouver (23-14-4) 10:00 pm EST

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Ticker) - A trip to Western Canada has not seemed to be the cure for the ailing New York Islanders.

After losing back-to-back games in overtime, the Islanders were blanked, 4-0, by Mathieu Garon and the Edmonton Oilers on Monday. New York has now gone over 116 minutes without a goal.

The club's return of their offensive struggles has coincided with goaltender Rick DiPietro's return from his knee injury. After the Islanders netted 11 goals in the three games that he missed, the team has managed just four tallies in the last three contests since his return.

DiPietro has been crucial in the Islanders' limited success this season, posting a 16-14-4 record despite playing behind an offense that has produced an Eastern Conference-low 98 goals.

Roberto Luongo and the Canucks will try to hold another New York team scoreless after blanking the Rangers, 3-0, on Thursday. Luongo made 28 saves en route to his sixth shutout of the season and 38th career.

Vancouver has not lost a home game in regulation since November 1, going 11-0-2 over that stretch. Luongo has started each of those 13 contests, allowing just 11 goals in that span.

The 28-year-old netminder is 19-12-3 with a 1.97 goals-against average and .930 save percentage this season.