The struggling New York Islanders are quickly being left in the dust in the NHL Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division standings, and Thursday the Isles hope the visiting Calgary Flames can heat up their play in a inter-conference match up at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale.
Last-place New York (11-17-6, 28 points) is looking to snap its current three-game losing streak and a four-game overall skid at home, while the Flames (18-15-4, 40 points) look to extend their current winning streak to four consecutive games.
The game will feature the return of right winger Blake Corneau, who after five seasons with the Islanders was released on Nov. 24 then claimed by the Flames the next day.
On Monday, the Islanders were shut out for a league-high seventh time in a 3-0 loss to East River rival the New York Rangers.
Meanwhile, Calgary sits in third place in the Western Conference's Northwest Divisions standings, which feature first-place Vancouver Canucks (48 points) and second-place Minnesota Wild (46).
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