Preview: Isles @ Flyers, 1.30.10 Wachovia Center

While the Philadelphia Flyers have managed to get back to winning ways, the Islanders are somewhat on the skids after losing three in a row.

What's to blame?

Not youth, not inexperience, not Rick DiPietro or Dwayne Roloson or Scott Gordon. A simple failure to execute plays. Think about it. We have virtually the same lineup when we were winning six in a row at home, with the exception of Dustin Kohn. Andy Sutton gets suspended, he comes back, and all of a sudden the Isles are afraid to play their game. They stop finishing checks, they stop doing anything that works, and as such, they start losing games. Not good.

Maybe a bout with the Flyers- tough customers (sometimes dirty, but we won't get into that)- will help liven them up a bit. The key is to get physical without fighting, because fighting throws them off their game- just focus, sustain the forecheck, use the neutral zone better, get bodies in front of the opposing net and keep the Flyers away from your goalie- oh, and try not to get in the way yourself. Sounds like a lot, I know, but you were doing it so well before the Pittsburgh game.

Players to Watch: Jeff Carter- a known Isle-killer- and Daniel Carcillo, who has three goals in five games and will be only too happy to mix it up with someone given the chance. On the Isles, watch out for Kyle Okposo, who has nine points in 11 games, and Matt Moulson, who scored the only goal of the Hurricanes game the other night.

This is the first game at the Wachovia Center in years that Christine won't be at, so she figures the Isles are going to win, and that means she'll never be able to go to a game again. She also hopes no one's gotten hit by large objects this time. :)

LET'S GO ISLANDERS!

P.S. Trevor Gillies is in the lineup as an enforcer. Blake Comeau is a healthy scratch. Last minute, sorry.