The Philadelphia Flyers will try to rebound after a dismal weekend when they host the New York Islanders for tonight's Atlantic Division battle at the Wells Fargo Center.
The Flyers played divisional opponents on back-to-back days on Saturday and Sunday and lost both tests in regulation while giving up a total of 11 goals. New Jersey notched a 6-4 win Saturday in Philadelphia and the Flyers were then dealt a 5-2 loss by the first-place Rangers in New York City.
Philadelphia, which trails the Rangers by five points for first in the Atlantic, has lost three of four and five of its last eight contests. Although the Flyers are currently seeded fourth in the East, Pittsburgh and the Devils are just two and three points back, respectively.
Normally, the Flyers would feel pretty good about the Islanders making a trip to Philadelphia, but New York halted a 13-game losing streak in the City of Brotherly Love by recording a 4-1 win at the Wells Fargo Center on Jan. 19. Evgeni Nabokov frustrated the Flyers with 40 saves in the Isles' first win in Philly since April 7, 2007.
The Flyers have still taken 26 of 29 overall from the Isles.
Philadelphia expects to get Danny Briere back tonight after the forward sat out the last six games with a concussion. Briere, who has 13 goals and 30 points in 43 games this season, has been taking part in contract drills in practice and the Flyers confirmed that he will be in the lineup tonight on their official Twitter feed.
Flyers forward James van Riemsdyk is still sidelined indefinitely with a concussion.
Philadelphia lost for the fourth time in four meetings against the Rangers this season on Sunday, as Artem Anisimov had a goal and two assists to lead the Blueshirts.
Brayden Schenn and Wayne Simmonds both scored for the Flyers, while Ilya Bryzgalov allowed four goals on 37 shots in the loss. Bryzgalov started Sunday after coming into the previous day's game in relief when Sergei Bobrovsky allowed all six goals against the Devils.
"We had too many turnovers today and they all wound up in the back of the net," said Simmonds.
It's unclear if Bryzgalov or Bobrovsky will get the start tonight. Bobrovsky is 7-1 with a 2.01 goals-against average in nine career games against the Isles, while Bryzgalov is 0-1 with a 5.52 GAA in three tests versus New York.
The Flyers enter tonight having lost four of their last five as the host. Philly is 12-8-4 at home this year compared to an 18-8-2 mark on the road.
The Isles, who are 11 points out of a playoff spot in the East, had won two straight before getting dealt a 4-3 shootout loss by visiting Buffalo on Saturday. Brad Boyes netted the game-winning goal in the first round of the shootout for the Sabres, who trailed 3-1 after the first period at Nassau Coliseum.
Frans Nielsen finished with two goals and an assist and Josh Bailey also scored for the Islanders. Al Montoya stopped 34-of-37 shots.
Isles forward John Tavares has gone without a point in two February games after being named the NHL's First Star of the Month in January. The 21-year- old has 12 points (5 goals, 7 assists) in 15 career tests against the Flyers.
New York has won its last two road games, but is still just 10-11-3 as the visiting team this season.
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