NY Islanders (12-23-4) at San Jose (28-4-5), 10:30 pm EST
SAN JOSE, California (Ticker) -- For the most part, the San Jose
Sharks have just refused to lose at home this season. The New
York Islanders do not win much anywhere.
The Sharks hope to continue their great run at the HP Pavilion
on Saturday, when they host the road-challenged Islanders.
San Jose is a remarkable 18-0-2 at the "Shark Tank" this season
and has not lost a regular-season home game in regulation since
February 14.
Seeking their fifth straight home win, the Sharks are coming off
a 3-2 overtime loss in Minnesota.
Joe Thornton notched a pair of assists in that one, giving him
35 on the season to rank second in the NHL in that category. He
also has nine goals.
The Islanders own the worst record in the NHL, posting a 2-11-2
mark since the end of November. New York, which is 0-10-1 in
its last 11 road games, hopes goaltender Rick DiPietro can make
back-to-back starts for the first time since mid-October.
DiPietro, who has missed the majority of the season with knee
and groin injuries, made 28 saves in Friday's 5-4 loss to the
Phoenix Coyotes.