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(Sports Network) - The Calgary Flames have been very successful against the New York Islanders in recent years and they hope that trend continues when they visit Nassau Coliseum on Long Island tonight.

The Flames are four points behind Detroit for the eighth and final playoff berth in the Western Conference with nine games left. Calgary needs to muster all the points it can get down the stretch, and with its recent history against the Islanders, the Flames would be disappointed with anything less than two points tonight.

Calgary has won three of five and 11 of the last 14 meetings with New York and has taken seven of the last nine encounters at the Coliseum. The teams met just once last year and the Flames notched a 5-2 victory at the Saddledome.

The Flames face a stern test down the stretch with just nine games left, including six on the road. Calgary, which is 18-11-6 as the guest this year, is beginning a three-game swing tonight.

"It doesn't matter where you play right now or who you're playing against you've got to win hockey games," Flames coach Brent Sutter said.

Calgary posted its third win in four games Tuesday night, earning a 3-1 home victory over Anaheim. Rene Bourque scored the go-ahead goal on a breakaway late in the second period to lead Calgary to the win.

Nigel Dawes scored on the power play in the first period and Niklas Hagman added a tally in the third for the Flames. Jarome Iginla added two assists and Miikka Kiprusoff made 22 saves.

Meanwhile, the Islanders have been all but eliminated from the Eastern Conference playoff race. New York is 14th in the conference and 10 points in back of the final postseason spot.

The Isles come into tonight having lost three in a row and were handed a blowout loss Wednesday against the rival New York Rangers. Marian Gaborik recorded two goals and an assist, and Henrik Lundqvist stopped all 27 shots to lead the Rangers to the 5-0 home win.

Dwayne Roloson turned aside 39 shots for the Isles, who suffered their first shutout against the Rangers since April 3, 2008.

"It's a big rivalry with potential playoff hopes on the lines," said Roloson. "And to come out like that is unfortunate."

The Isles, who are 19-13-3 as the host this year, are playing five of their next six games on home ice.