(Best E Casino) - The New York Islanders will try to avoid their eighth consecutive loss tonight, when they welcome the rival Philadelphia Flyers for an Atlantic Division battle at Nassau Coliseum.

The Islanders have dropped seven straight games for the first time since November 20-December 4, 2003. New York's last eight-game slide was from November 9-25, 2000.

New York has lost each of its last two games by just one goal and the Isles are coming off Saturday's overtime setback in Minnesota. Brent Burns scored with 2:26 remaining in OT to lift the Wild to a 4-3 decision at Xcel Energy Center.

In the extra session, Marian Gaborik moved in on Islanders goaltender Rick DiPietro and tried to stick handle around an Islander defender. The puck caromed off a defender's skate right to Burns, who was following up the play, and he slipped the puck between the legs of DiPietro.

Bill Guerin had a goal and an assist for the floundering Islanders. Andy Hilbert and Sean Bergenheim also tallied, while Mike Comrie collected two assists. DiPietro yielded four goals on 18 shots in defeat.

The Islanders are last in the Atlantic Division with 55 points and only Tampa Bay has less points in the Eastern Conference with 52.

The Flyers have also struggled recently, as they've dropped three straight contests to post their longest skid since losing six straight from December 13-22.

Philadelphia had been in first place in the Atlantic before the slide, but is now in third -- four points behind Pittsburgh for the division's top spot.

The Flyers were handed a 4-3 setback in Pittsburgh on Sunday, as Evgeni Malkin had a goal and three assists to lead the Pens.

R.J. Umberger scored twice for Philly, Scott Hartnell added another goal and Martin Biron made 21 saves in defeat.

Flyers winger Simon Gagne suffered another concussion in Sunday's loss, as he left after one period of play with the head injury and did not return. Gagne, who has seven goals and 11 assists in just 25 games this year, also missed 30 games earlier this season when he suffered a concussion against Florida on October 24. It is uncertain how much time Gagne will miss with the latest concussion.

Gagne had notched back-to-back 40-goal seasons coming into the 2007-08 campaign.

The Flyers are 17-11-0 as the visiting team this year, while New York is 13-12-3 at the Coliseum.

Philadelphia is 3-0 against the Islanders this season and has taken seven of the last 13 encounters overall. The Flyers have also come out on top in five of their last seven stops at the Coliseum.