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Flyers look to snap out of funk against Islanders

Nov 11, 2008 - 2:19 PM Philadelphia (4-6-3) at NY Islanders, 2:00 pm EDT

UNIONDALE, New York (Ticker) -- As expected, the New York Islanders have struggled immensely in the early stages of the season. The puzzling part about the Atlantic Division, though, is how different the Philadelphia Flyers look from their positive run in 2007-08.

The reeling Flyers hope to snap a three-game losing skid when they visit the Islanders on Tuesday in matchup of the only two teams in the NHL yet to notch five victories.

Philadelphia made a 20-win improvement last season after a dismal 22-48-12 campaign in 2006-07, but has taken a major step back thus far.

The Flyers, who have yielded the fourth-most goals in the Eastern Conference (47), pulled the trigger on a trade to boost their defensive unit, acquiring defenseman Matt Carle from the Tampa Bay Lightning for Steve Eminger and Steve Downie on Friday.

The move seemingly did not make much of a difference in the Flyers' 2-1 loss to the Lightning. A tally from Daniel Briere in his first game back after recovering from abdominal surgery was not enough as they scored only goal for the second straight contest.

A 31-goal scorer last season, Briere has four goals and four assists during a five-game point streak against the Islanders.

Things have not been much better for the Islanders, who have lost eight of their last 10. They are coming off a 4-3 shootout loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, two days after dropping a 4-3 decision to the lowly Atlanta Thrashers.

For the second year in a row, General Colin Powell will drop the ceremonial first puck prior to the start of this game. The native of New York, Powell was sworn in as the 65th Secretary of State on January 20, 2001.

Powell is the second political powerhouse to drop the ceremonial first puck at a Flyers' game this season.

Sarah Palin, the governor of Alaska and the Republican candidate for the vice presidency of the United States, dropped the ceremonial first puck at the Wachovia Center when the Flyers hosted the New York Rangers on October 11.