Islanders  0    Lightning  4

New York Islanders (11-10-7) at Tampa Bay Lightning (10-9-8), 7:30 p.m.

Sports Network | December 5, 2009

(Sports Network) - The Islanders were able to cool off a streaking team last time out. Next, they'll try for just their second winning streak of the season versus a club that has struggled as of late.

New York hopes to make it two wins in a row Saturday night in a clash with the Tampa Bay Lightning at St. Pete Times Forum.

Backed by Matt Moulson's first career hat trick, the Islanders ended the Thrashers' four-game win streak on Thursday with a 4-1 victory. Atlanta had won eight of its last 11 prior to that game.

Moulson upped his team-leading goal total to 14 in 28 games. He came into the season with just six goals in 29 games over the previous two seasons with the Kings.

"It was huge, especially against Atlanta," Moulson said about the win. "They have been playing well lately. They have some very dynamic players. It was good to get the two points against them."

John Tavares added an empty-net goal, his 11th marker of the season, and is tied with Moulson for the team lead in points with 22. Trent Hunter and Kyle Okposo each had a pair of assists, while Dwayne Roloson made 26 saves.

New York has now split the first two games of a five-game road trip and is 5-7-5 as the guest this year. The Islanders have posted just one winning streak this season, a four-game run from October 28-November 2.

The Lightning, meanwhile, have lost four straight and five of their last six. They appeared in line to earn at least a point in last night's road test versus the Devils, but New Jersey's Jamie Langenbrunner redirected a point shot past Antero Niittymaki with 38.1 seconds left in regulation to hand Tampa Bay a 3-2 setback.

"Everybody knows how well the defensemen can shoot the puck, and on a play like that, everyone tries to take their place, take a man, but that happens. What can you do," said Niittymaki after making 16 saves.

Vincent Lecavalier and Steve Downie tallied for the Lightning, who begin a three-game homestand tonight. However, they have lost three of their last four as the host to fall to 6-2-4 at St. Pete Times Forum.

The Lightning swept their four-game set with the Islanders in 2005-06 and 06-07, but have since lost six of eight to the club over the last two seasons. The Islanders have still lost six of their last eight at Tampa however.