(Sports Network) - It has been a while since the Islanders beat the Flyers. It has been even longer since they have defeated goaltender Martin Biron.
Biron will try for his ninth straight win over New York tonight, as Philadelphia hosts the Islanders at the Wachovia Center.
Catch it live on TSN2 at 7pm et/4pm pt. Also available in TSN2 HD.
The Flyers won seven of their eight meetings with the Islanders last year, with Antero Niittymaki in goal for the lone loss. Biron, meanwhile, manned the pipes for six of those wins and has also beaten New York twice this season to run his personal winning streak versus the club to eight games.
Biron has posted a 1.48 goals against average versus the Islanders in that span to go along with a .954 save percentage. He hasn't lost to New York since March 24, 2007.
Philadelphia's two victories over the Islanders this year has stretched its winning run against them to six games. The club has also won five in a row at home against the Isles.
The Flyers have won two of their last three games, with each of those contests going into overtime. On Saturday in Carolina, Jeff Carter scored with 1:26 left in the extra frame to lift the Flyers to a 2-1 victory.
Carter battled with the Hurricanes' Rod Brind'Amour in the right faceoff circle and eventually won control of the puck. He then snapped a quick shot into the net for the win and his 19th goal of the season. Carter trails Buffalo's Thomas Vanek by one tally for the NHL lead.
Mike Richards scored the other goal while short-handed on an assist from Simon Gagne, while Niittymaki stopped 35 shots in the win. Philadelphia leads the league in short-handed goals with 11. Richards has four of those and has posted six points (5 goals, 1 assist) over his last four games.
The Flyers, who trail Pittsburgh by two points for second place in the Atlantic Division, begin a four-game homestand tonight. They are 6-4-3 as the hosting team this year.
The Islanders, meanwhile, resume a four-game road trip tonight. They lost the opener of the swing, 4-2, in Toronto last night for their third straight road setback. New York is 5-7-1 as the visiting team this season.
However, the club has done well bouncing back in consecutive games. New York is 4-0-0 in the second half of back-to-back contests this season.
Bill Guerin scored in his second straight game and Mike Sillinger lit the lamp for New York, which has also lost three straight and five of its last six overall. Guerin has five goals and two assists over his last eight games.
Joey MacDonald was beaten for four goals on 37 shots and has now given up four or more goals in five of his last six starts, including nine over his last two starts. He has been in net for both games versus the Flyers this year.
New York hasn't lost four straight since a season-high six-game slide from October 18-November 1. It is last in the Atlantic Division with just 22 points.
