(My Sportsbook) - The
Philadelphia Flyers will hope their recent success over the
New York Islanders will help them extend their edge for the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference, as the two clubs battle tonight at Nassau Coliseum.
The Flyers enter this contest with 90 points on the season, giving them a one- point advantage over fifth-seeded Carolina in the standings. Pittsburgh, meanwhile, is just two points back in sixth place, but Philadelphia has three games in hand on the Hurricanes and two on the Penguins.
The Flyers also trail first-place New Jersey by eight points in the Atlantic Division with nine games to play, giving them an outside chance at a division title.
Philadelphia has won all four of its meetings with the Islanders this year and eight in a row over the club overall. That includes victories in three straight and four of its last five trips to Nassau Coliseum.
The Orange and Black have scored at least three goals in all four meetings with New York this year and posted a 5-1 win the last time the clubs met on February 14.
However, the Flyers had a three-game winning streak snapped on Thursday with a 4-2 loss to Florida. Jeff Carter scored his 41st goal of the season -- third most in the league -- and added an assist to give him three goals and three assists over a five-game point streak.
Scott Hartnell also scored and Martin Biron made 24 saves as he fell to 6-3-0 over his last nine starts. Biron, though, is 18-4-0 with a tie and 1.88 goals against average in his career versus the Islanders and has won his last 10 decisions against them.
The Flyers are 18-12-6 on the road this year and will host Boston on Sunday.
Though the Islanders are last in the NHL with 58 points, they embraced the role of spoiler in last night's matchup with Detroit, blanking the Red Wings by a 2-0 score.
Joey MacDonald made 42 saves to notch his first-career shutout in what was his 58th career start. Frans Nielsen posted a goal in the victory, giving him four goals and four assists over his last eight games.
Josh Bailey provided the other tally for the Islanders, who put an end to a three-game losing streak.
New York will play three of its next four games at home, where it is 16-15-5 this season and has won four of its last six.
