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Islanders continuing playoff push against rival Penguins

Feb 26, 2008 - 1:28 PM Pittsburgh (35-21-7) at NY Islanders (30-26-7) 7:00 pm EST

UNIONDALE, New York (Ticker) - The New York Islanders' winning streak may have ended, but their playoff hopes are far from over.

The Islanders will hope to start a new winning streak when they host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday in an Atlantic Division battle.

Rick DiPietro made 38 saves but New York's six-game surge was snapped with a 4-2 setback to the division-leading New Jersey Devils on Saturday. DiPietro is 25-22-7 with a 2.65 goals-against average and three shutouts this season.

The Penguins have picked up at least one point over their previous five games but have fallen after regulation in their last two. They sit two points behind the Devils for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.

Evgeni Malkin, who is tied with Washington's Alex Ovechkin for the league lead with 82 points, has been held off the scoresheet for the past two contests - including Sunday's 2-1 shootout loss to the San Jose Sharks.

While Pittsburgh is searching for the No. 1 seed this postseason, the Islanders are just hoping to participate in the playoffs.

New York is currently in 10th place in the East and is two points behind the Philadelphia Flyers and Buffalo Sabres - a pair of teams tied for eighth place.