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Rolling Flyers hope to continue streak against Islanders

Oct 30, 2008 - 10:33 AM NY Islanders (2-6-0) at Philadelphia (3-3-3), 7:00 pm EDT

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- It was not too long ago that the Philadelphia Flyers seemed as hopeless as the New York Islanders currently appear to be.

The resurgent Flyers hope to extend their winning streak to four games when they host the struggling Islanders in a battle of Atlantic Division rivals on Thursday.

After dropping its first six games of the season - including a 7-6 shootout loss to the San Jose Sharks last Wednesday - Philadelphia has used a high-octane offense to produce a three-game winning streak.

Receiving two goals apiece from Simon Gagne, Mike Knuble and Joffrey Lupul, the Flyers cruised to a 7-0 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers on Tuesday. Prior to that outburst, they took two games from the division rival New Jersey Devils in a home-and-home series over the weekend.

Netminders Martin Biron and Antero Niittymaki, who made 24 saves on Tuesday en route to his fourth career shutout, have had a rather easy time protecting leads since the Flyers have outscored opponents, 16-5, during their recent stretch.

The Islanders, however, have not had as much success lately, dropping four consecutive contests. Promising youngster Kyle Okposo and veteran Doug Weight each scored on Monday, but their efforts were not enough to overcome the New York Rangers in a 4-2 loss.

The Islanders have won five games in each of the last three Octobers, but they captured just two of eight thus far with just one game remaining this month.

The team also could be without goaltender Rick DiPietro, who suffered a lower body injury in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.

In just his third start since recovering from arthroscopic surgery performed on his right knee on June 4, DiPietro stopped 10 of 12 shots before being removed.

If DiPietro cannot go, Joey MacDonald will resume the starting duties - a role he occupied for the first four games of the season. The 28-year-old MacDonald is 2-4-0 with a 3.54 goals-against average in six appearances.