The New York Islanders enter the Steel City on a three-game skid after collapsing against the New York Rangers on Sunday.
With MetLife Stadium in the rearview mirror, the New York Islanders (22-18-14) hit the road trip for two games, starting against the Pittsburgh Penguins (24-21-7) in the Steel City.
Puck drop from PPG Paints Arena is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET.
Morning Skate Updates:
The Islanders skated at PPG Paints Arena this morning.
Ilya Sorokin (16-12-11, 3.12 GAA, .910 SV%) was in the starter's crease. He is 6-5-0 in 11 career games against Pittsburgh, with a 3.06 GAA and a .909 SV% with one shutout.
Updates per Newsday's Andrew Gross.
The Penguins skated at UMPC Lemieux Sports Complex.
Alex Nedeljkovic was in the starter's crease, owning a 9-4-3 record with a 2.54 GAA and a .919 SV% with one shutout.
In four appearances against the Islanders, Nedeljkovic is 3-0-0, with a 2.11 GAA with a .933 SV%.
New York Islanders Lines (Projected):
Anders Lee - Bo Horvat - Mathew Barzal
Pierre Engvall - Brock Nelson - Kyle Palmieri
Simon Holmstrom - Jean-Gabriel Pageau - Oliver Wahlstrom
Matt Martin - Casey Cizikas - Cal Clutterbuck
Adam Pelech - Ryan Pulock
Alexander Romanov - Noah Dobson
Mike Reilly - Scott Mayfield
Ilya Sorokin
Semyon Varlamov
Pittsburgh Penguins Lines (Projected):
Rickard Rakell - Sidney Crosby - Bryan Rust
Drew O'Connor - Evgeni Malkin - Matthew Phillips
Reilly Smith-Lars Eller-Valtteri Puustinen
Jansen Harkins-Jeff Carter-Colin White
Pierre-Olivier Joseph-Kris Letang
Marcus Pettersson-Erik Karlsson
Ryan Graves-Chad Ruhwedel
Alex Nedeljovich
Tristan Jarry
Islanders Notes:
Dobson recorded three assists in Sunday's game, it's the sixth time in his career the blueliner recorded three helpers in a game. His performance also helped him eclipse the 50-assist plateau, becoming the fourth Islanders defenseman to accomplish the feat.
Barzal's goal extended his point streak to seven games; the All-Star forward has four goals and five assists in that span. Dobson also boasts a four-game point streak, totaling a goal and five assists in that stretch.
Nelson enters Tuesday's game as New York's leading scorer against Pittsburgh, totaling 19 goals and 16 assists, 35 points, in 41 games.
Penguins Notes:
The Los Angeles Kings spoiled Jaromir Jagr night on Sunday, defeating the Penguins 2-1. Sidney Crosby opened the scoring for Pittsburgh late in the first, and his tally stood as the only marker through two periods of play. However, the Kings broke through late in the third, getting two goals from Adrian Kempe three minutes apart, finishing the road victory.
The Penguins defeated the Islanders in their last matchup on the final day of 2023. Pittsburgh tallied two goals in as many periods to open the scoring, with Lars Eller lighting the lamp in the first and Noel Acciari adding on the second.
Bryan Rust enters Tuesday's game on a four-game point streak, totaling three goals and an assist in that span.
Crosby's goal gives him three red lights in his past two games heading into a matchup with the Islanders, a team he leads active Penguins in scoring against by a wide margin. The Pittsburgh captain has 41 goals and 91 assists, 132 points, in 84 games.
Betting Corner:
In this divisional matchup, the home team enters as the favorite. Pittsburgh sits at -145 on the money line compared to the Islanders at +120. The over/under starts at 5.5 goals, the over favored at -125 compared to the under at +105.
All lines are courtesy of MGM Sportsbook.
How To Watch:
The Islanders-Penguins game will air on MSGSN. On the radio, the contest is available on 88.7 FM WRHU, 103.9 LI News Radio, and 1050 AM ESPN.