UNIONDALE, NY — Derisive cheers could be heard every time the Islanders put up a soft shot on goal in the final period last night. The Nassau Coliseum crowd finally was able to celebrate a goal when Chris Campoli’s power play tally prevented the Islanders from a second straight home shutout.

But Campoli’s point blast couldn’t prevent the Isles from extending its losing streak to three, where they will start a four-game road trip looking to atone for a 3-1 defeat to the Boston Bruins. It marked the 13th straight game they failed to score more than two goals in regulation or overtime. The offensive struggles continued for a team that has scored an NHL-low 57 goals through 25 games.

“What’s wrong with the offense? A lot,” coach Ted Nolan said. “We’ve got to work harder. It comes down to being a little bit more gritty; a little bit more hungry. We’re OK. OK just doesn’t cut it.”

Following a 4-0 thumping against the Thrashers on Saturday, the Islanders regrouped by sending No. 1 goalie Rick DiPietro back between the pipes after a one-game rest. The netminder responded by making 19 saves, though the Bruins power play broke through for two goals.

“It seems like we’re getting chances and open net. Pucks just aren’t finding their way in the net,” said DiPietro, who made a career-high 18 straight starts before Nolan rested him. “The harder you work, the more breaks you get. At some point, you’ think we’d get a lucky bounce off some skate or break and it gets things going. Right now, it’s tough.

“We’re trying. It’s not from lack of effort.”

Nolan reshuffled three of his four lines and worked in minor league call-up Jeff Tambellini. It still took Campoli’s goal with 1:51 remaining in the contest to end the Isles scoreless streak at 140:12, spanning losses to the Rangers, Thrashers and now Bruins before a road stretch starting Wednesday night in Atlanta.

“These are the times where you have to go on the road and bond again,” said captain Bill Guerin, who has not recorded a point in the last 14 games dating to Nov. 1. “With the start we had, teams are ready for us. We're not going to surprise anybody. [But] there's light at the end of the tunnel.”

Campoli’s tally marked just the fifth time in the past 55 chances the Isles scored on the power play. His blister from the top of the right circle was the only goal Boston netminder Tim Thomas allowed, making 33 saves.

DiPietro has been the best Islanders player throughout the season, helping his team survive tense one-goal games. Thomas bested his counterpart on this night, stopping quality scoring chances from Josef Vasicek and two saves in the first period off Bryan Berard’s point shot and Miroslav Satan’s point-black rebound attempt.

Ruslan Fedotenko couldn’t finish one-timer midway through the second, failing to net the equalizer after Glen Murray fired a wrist shot that beat DiPietro high glove-side for a power play goal 13:03 into the first period.

“Teams go through this,” center Mike Comrie said about the scoring drought. “You think it’s the end of the world, but goals are going to come. You start to over-think and try to do too much. We’re struggling but we keep getting chances.”

Andy Sutton sent the Bruins an early holiday gift, flubbing a pass that barely went of his stick blade. Chuck Kobasew capitalized on the fortuitous play, collecting the puck and racing untouched to the net before depositing a shot under the crossbar to make it 2-0. Petteri Nokelainen added an insurance marker 16:35 into the final period, scoring his 11th goal during a power play.

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