With the countdown to the new year underway, the New York Islanders (17-9-9) wrap up 2023 against the Pittsburgh Penguins (16-13-4) in the Steel City.
With the countdown to the new year underway, the New York Islanders (17-9-9) wrap up 2023 against the Pittsburgh Penguins (16-13-4) in the Steel City.
Puck drop from PPG Paints Arena is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
Following a blowout, 7-0 loss to the Penguins on Wednesday, the Islanders bounced back with a 5-1 victory against the Washington Capitals on Friday.
After a scoreless first period, New York struck for two in the second period. Jean-Gabriel Pageau opened the scoring on a one-timer, and Noah Dobson rifled home a shot to make it 2-0 after two periods. In the third period, Julien Gauthier tallied two goals in 18 seconds, and Pageau bookended the Islanders’ offense with his second on the night.
The onslaught proved more than enough for Ilya Sorokin, who was spotless aside from a last-minute goal from Nicolas Aube-Kubel, ending a 5-1 win.
Tonight’s game is a rematch of the team’s first matchup on Dec. 27, a game in which Pittsburgh romped the Islanders 7-0. After a scoreless first period, the Penguins exploded for six second-period goals, including two from Jake Guentzel and Evgeni Malkin. After adding another goal in the third, Tristan Jarry finished a 22-save shutout.
Morning Skate Updates
The Islanders skated at PPG Paints Arena on Sunday.
Three injured Islanders made the trip to Pittsburgh, including defensemen Adam Pelech and Scott Mayfield, and goaltender Semyon Varlamov.
Mayfield was activated out of injured reserve and is a game-time decision.
Ilya Sorokin was in the starter’s crease for the Islanders, he’ll make his 24th start of the season tonight (11-5-7, 3.17 GAA, .911 SV%). Sorokin was on the short side of Wednesday’s game, yielding six goals on 25 shots, but still has success against the Penguins. In 10 career starts, he’s 6-4-0 with a .905 SV% and 3.17 GAA.
The Penguins did not hold a morning skate after defeating the St. Louis Blues 4-2 on Saturday night.
With Jarry starting that one, Alex Nedeljkovic will likely make his 10th start for the Penguins (5-2-2, 2.64 GAA, .917 SV%).
Nedeljkovic has three career appearances against the Islanders, owning a 2-0-0 record with a 2.58 GAA and .910 SV%. His most recent against the Islanders was on Mar. 24, 2022, where he let up two goals on 10 shots in relief of Thomas Greiss as a member of the Detroit Red Wings.
New York Islanders Lines (Projected)
Anders Lee - Bo Horvat - Mathew Barzal
Pierre Engvall - Brock Nelson - Kyle Palmieri
Simon Holmstrom - Jean Gabriel Pageau - Julien Gauthier
Hudson Fasching- Casey Cizikas - Cal Clutterbuck
Alexander Romanov - Noah Dobson
Sebastian Aho- Robert Bortuzzo
Mike Reilly - Scott Mayfield
Ilya Sorokin
Semyon Varlamov
Pittsburgh Penguins Lines (Projected)
Jake Guentzel - Sidney Crosby - Rickard Rakell
Reilly Smith - Evgeni Malkin - Valtteri Puustinen
Radim Zohorna - Lars Eller - Drew O’Connor
Jansen Harkins - Noel Acciari - Jeff Carter
Marcus Petterson - Kris Letang
Ryan Graves - Erik Karlsson
John Ludvig - Chad Ruhwedel
Alex Nedeljkovic
Tristan Jarry
Islanders Notes
The Islanders’ third line stole the show against the Capitals on Friday. Pageau tallied a four-point game, tying his career-high he set on three occasions. Julien Gauthier tallied his first career three-point game, setting a new personal best.
With Mathew Barzal’s secondary assist on Dobson’s goal, he is now two points shy of becoming the 18th player in franchise history to reach 400 points. He can also become the third active Islander to accomplish the feat, joining Brock Nelson and Anders Lee.
Nelson and Barzal each have their share of offensive success against Washington. Nelson leads the team in goals and points against the Capitals with 13 and 25, respectively, in 46 contests. Barzal has the most assists among active Islanders, with 16.
Brock Nelson is the Islanders’ top scorer across the board against the Penguins. The Islanders’ center has 19 goals and 16 assists, 35 points, in 40 games to lead the team. Barzal also has strong numbers against the Penguins, boasting seven goals and 15 assists, good for 22 points in 25 games.
Penguins Notes
Following their holiday break, the Penguins earned their fourth win in five games against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday. Drew O’Connor opened the scoring in the first period, but the two teams traded goals throughout the night. Robert Thomas Malkin scored on the power play in the middle period, with Jeff Carter and Kasperi Kapanen scoring in the first half of the third. Despite a St. Louis push, Crosby sealed the game with an empty netter, finishing off a 4-2 Pittsburgh victory.
Following a two-point game on Saturday, Malkin enters tonight’s game on a three-game point streak. The longtime Penguins’ forward has three goals and two assists in that span, including a two-goal game against the Islanders. Rickard Rakell has a four-game point streak entering Sunday’s game, totaling two goals and three assists in that span.
Despite being kept off the board on Wednesday, Crosby still has his share of dominance against the Islanders. The Pittsburgh captain has 41 goals and 91 assists, 132 points, against the Islanders in 83 games to lead the team.
Betting Corner
Following a strong performance against the Islanders Wednesday, Pittsburgh enters Sunday’s game as the favorite. On the money line, the Penguins sit at -125, while the Islanders start at +105. The over/under begins at 6.5 goals, the under more likely at -120 to the over at +100.
All lines are courtesy of MGM Sportsbook.
How to Watch
Tonight’s game is available on MSGSN. On the radio, tonight’s game will air on 88.7 FM WRHU, 98.7 ESPN, and 103.9 LI News Radio.
Matthew Page contributed to this report.