After ending their recent slide, the Calgary Flames now need to contain one of their nemeses as they continue battling for a wild card in the Western Conference.

John Tavares looks to avoid his longest goal drought of the season by continuing his success against visiting Calgary on Friday night when the New York Islanders resume their quest for the Metropolitan Division crown.

The Flames (33-24-4) looked as though they might stumble toward missing the playoffs for a sixth straight season after losing their third in a row Tuesday, 1-0 to the Rangers in the opener of a seven-game trip. Calgary, however, regrouped by rallying from an early deficit for a 3-1 win at New Jersey the following night.

Karri Ramo has 54 saves over the last two games for the surprising Flames, who are in a tight fight with Minnesota and San Jose for the West's second wild-card spot.

"We have to keep winning games," left wing Curtis Glencross said. "The spot we're in, we can't afford to lose."

The Flames have killed all 25 of their penalties over the past 13 contests, while the Islanders have gone 2 for 25 on the power play in their last nine.

Jonas Hiller has struggled with a 1-3-1 record and a 3.96 goals-against average in his past five starts, but he's expected to be back in net versus New York (40-20-2). He's 2-1-0 with a 1.88 GAA in six meetings dating to his time with Anaheim.

Calgary will certainly have to keep a close watch on Tavares, who ranks among NHL leaders with 29 goals and 63 points.

Tavares scored twice - once on the power play - in New York's 2-1 win at Calgary on Jan. 2. The captain has five goals and three assists in his last four matchups and the Islanders have won four of five meetings when he's played.

Tavares will try to avoid going scoreless in a season-high fourth straight game. He recorded an assist - his 12th point in seven games - in a 5-1 victory over Arizona on Tuesday that halted a two-game skid in the second of a four-game homestand.

The Islanders had totaled one goal over their previous five periods before scoring four times in the final 20 minutes against the Coyotes. They improved to 32-6-1 when scoring at least three goals.

New York, which narrowly leads the Rangers and Pittsburgh in the division, has won 19 of its past 25 home games and has outshot its opponents in 29 of the past 33 overall.

"It all starts in the room for us as it has all year," said backup goalie Chad Johnson, who had 27 saves Tuesday. "We know what it takes to be successful."

Jaroslav Halak is likely to be back between the pipes as he goes for a franchise-record 33rd victory. He is currently tied for the single-season mark with Billy Smith, Chris Osgood and Rick DiPietro.

Halak has gone 4-1-1 with a 1.65 GAA in his last six starts against the Flames dating to his time with St. Louis.

Calgary's leading scorer Sean Monahan, who scored the winner Wednesday, has four goals and four assists in his last six games and has scored twice in three career meetings with the Islanders.