Roloson makes second straight start

The Islanders awarded goaltender Dwayne Roloson his second straight start last night to provide fellow netminder Rick DiPietro some relief from his last appearance against the Flyers a week earlier.

In that start, DiPietro and the Islanders were torched for six goals. The Islanders have lost the three games after that 6-1 loss to the Flyers in what has become a seven-game losing streak.

"I guess to keep Ricky from the scene of the crime," coach Scott Gordon said when asked about the decision. "I just thought, mentally, it would be an opportunity for [Roloson] and not have that memory of that game in Ricky's mind."

Roloson entered the game with losses in his previous three starts.

'D' pairings switched

After watching his team give up 17 goals in the previous three games, Gordon switched the top two defensive pairings.

Although the top two tandems had been one of the few constants during the first 13 games of the season, Gordon coupled James Wisniewski with Mark Eaton and Mike Mottau with Radek Martinek.

"We've lost six games," he said. "Our [defense] is different without Andrew MacDonald and Milan Jurcina - two bigger bodies - and now our defense is on the smaller side."

Hunter back

Trent Hunter, who has missed four games with a lingering foot injury, returned to the lineup after missing Thursday's game against Ottawa. To make room for Hunter's return, right wing P.A. Parenteau was scratched for the first time this season. Parenteau is tied for second on the team in points with three goals and six assists.