Isles clash with Red Wings aiming to snap home slide
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(SportsNetwork.com) - The New York Islanders try to avoid an eighth straight loss at home on Sunday evening when they conclude a four-game residency against the Detroit Red Wings.
The Isles are 0-6-1 at home since a win over visiting Calgary on Feb. 27. They went winless on a three-game homestand from March 10-14 and began this stay at Nassau Coliseum with a shootout loss to Minnesota prior to setbacks to Los Angeles and Anaheim.
The Islanders lost their third straight and for the seventh time in eight games overall with a 3-2 loss to the Ducks. Lubomir Visnovsky returned from a five-game absence caused by a lower-body injury and scored, while Casey Cizikas lit the lamp as well and Michal Neuvirth yielded three goals on 24 shots.
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"Adversity is a springboard for success, in my opinion," said Islanders coach Jack Capuano. "They're going to battle through this."
New York's skid has dropped it into a tie with the Pittsburgh Penguins for second place in the Metropolitan Division -- eight points behind the first- place New York Rangers. The Islanders have played one more game than the Pens, who host the San Jose Sharks on Sunday night.
The Washington Capitals are within three points of the Islanders and Penguins as well in the division.
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Jaroslav Halak figures to draw the start today for New York and is 5-4-1 with a 3.22 goals against average and .890 save percentage in 11 games versus Detroit.
The Red Wings, meanwhile, will turn to backup netminder Petr Mrazek for a second day in a row.
With Jimmy Howard having allowed eight goals in his last two starts, getting lifted early on Thursday versus the Sharks, Mrazek got the call versus Tampa Bay on Saturday and posted a 23-save shutout in a 4-0 win over the Lightning.
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Mrazek's second shutout of the season and fourth of his career pulled the Red Wings within seven points of the second-place Lightning in the Atlantic Division with two games in hand. Detroit also is five games up on the fourth- place Boston Bruins.
Detroit came into the game having lost six of eight, but earned a point for the third time in four contests (2-1-1).
"We know we've got to get points here going down the stretch," said Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg. "Tonight was obviously a big game for us."
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Justin Abdelkader scored a goal for a fourth game in a row, his 23rd of the season, while Joakim Andersson, Gustav Nyquist and Luke Glendening also tallied.
Mrazek is 1-2-0 with a 1.89 GAA and .923 save percentage in three games (2 starts) versus the Islanders. That includes a 4-1 victory at home on Jan. 31, when he stopped 22-of-23 sots faced.
The Red Wings and Isles have split their first two meetings this season, both in Detroit, but New York has won seven of the past nine overall and three of the previous four played at home.