As the Islanders' playoff hopes dwindle, one veteran received a new start Sunday.

The Islanders acquired center Randy Robitaille from the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday for a fifth-round pick in this year's entry draft.

The Islanders also sent veteran forward Claude Lapointe to Philadelphia for a fifth-round pick in this year's draft.

Flyers general manager Bob Clarke said the move will strengthen the Flyers' penalty-killing unit and add depth to the bench.

In other moves, goaltender Rick DiPietro was recalled by the Islanders from Bridgeport of the AHL and defenseman Alan Letang was sent to Bridgeport.

The 27-year-old Robitaille has five goals and 12 assists in 41 games for the Penguins this season. Last season he had 10 goals and 20 assists in 40 games.

"Randy is a gifted offensive player that we believe is a good fit for us,'' Islanders general manager Mike Milbury said.

The 34-year old Lapointe joined the Islanders as a free agent in the summer of 1996 and stayed with the franchise for six-plus seasons. His best season was 1998-99, when he went 14-23-37 in 82 games.

This season he was 6-6-12 in 66 games.

The Islanders seemed in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff picture not too long ago. But its second straight postseason appearance, after failing to qualify for seven years, has become precarious because of a 1-4-3 slump.

The Islanders dropped three straight for the first time since an early six-game slide after Saturday's 4-2 loss to the Devils. They hold the eighth and final spot in the East, four points ahead of the New York Rangers with two games in hand.

The Islanders have a tough six-game road trip ahead before returning home to play the Devils again in two weeks.