Kelsey and Hannah discuss what the Pittsburgh Penguins should be asking Santa for this holiday season. The Pittsburgh Penguins will look to flip the script on the New York Islanders this evening at PPG Paints Arena. After getting doubled up 6-3 at UBS Arena on Saturday, the Penguins host the Islanders for the first time this season and look to pick up their first campaign win against New York. Something to watch for tonight is whether or not Pittsburgh can get another win against a Metropolitan Division opponent. Through ten games within the division, the Penguins are now 2-7-1, yet somehow remain one point out of the second wildcard spot. Additionally, all eyes will be on captain Sidney Crosby, who picked up an assist on a Michael Bunting goal in the first period on Saturday, only to have the NHL veto the assist in the record book. Instead of overtaking Mario Lemieux for the most assists in franchise history, Crosby is still stuck on 1,033 with a chase to clinch the record on home ice in front of his hometown fans. Outside of any last-minute changes, the Penguins will roll with the same lineup for the second consecutive night, except in goal, where Alex Nedeljkovic is projected to be the starter. In his career against the Islanders, he's 3-1-2 with a 3.14 GAA and .898 SV%, including statistics from a 4-3 shootout loss on Nov. 5. This season, Nedeljkovic is 5-5-3 with a 3.26 GAA and .886 SV%. Meanwhile, the Islanders are running it back with their Saturday night lineup, except Ilya Sorokin is getting a night off, with former Penguins netminder Magnus Högberg getting the nod. Initially drafted by the Ottawa Senators in 2013, he played 42 games with the club from 2018 to 2021 and hasn't started in a game since Apr. 28, 2021. He's played Pittsburgh only once, losing 5-2 on Dec. 30, 2019. Högberg has only made two relief appearances in 2024-25, playing 36:24 with 17 saves and no goals against. One final thing of note is that Pittsburgh is a better home team, with a 10-7-2 record, while New York has a 7-7-5 record as a visitor. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PENGUINS & ISLANDERS LEADERS * undefined * undefined * undefined * undefined * undefined * undefined -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Per the Penguins staff at NHL.com [https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-projected-lineup-projections], here's a breakdown of tonight's lineup. (Subject to change) FORWARDS Rickard Rakell -- Sidney Crosby -- Bryan Rust [https://www.nhl.com/penguins/player/bryan-rust-8475810] Michael Bunting -- Evgeni Malkin [https://www.nhl.com/penguins/player/evgeni-malkin-8471215] -- Drew O'Connor [https://www.nhl.com/player/8482055] Anthony Beauvillier [https://www.nhl.com/player/8478463] -- Cody Glass [https://www.nhl.com/player/8479996] -- Philip Tomasino [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/5-interesting-things-about-philip-tomasino] Matt Nieto [https://www.nhl.com/player/8476442] -- Blake Lizotte [https://www.nhl.com/player/8481481] -- Noel Acciari [https://www.nhl.com/player/8478569] DEFENSE Pierre-Olivier Joseph [https://www.nhl.com/player/8480058] -- Kris Letang [https://www.nhl.com/player/8471724] Matt Grzelcyk [https://www.nhl.com/player/8478047] -- Erik Karlsson [https://www.nhl.com/penguins/player/erik-karlsson-8474578] Ryan Graves [https://www.nhl.com/player/8477435] -- Ryan Shea [https://www.nhl.com/player/8478854] GOALIES Alex Nedeljkovic Tristan Jarry SCRATCHES Kevin Hayes [https://www.nhl.com/player/8475763], Jesse Puljujarvi [https://www.nhl.com/player/8479344], Nathan Clurman -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tonight is the third of four meetings between the Penguins and Islanders, with the first contest at PPG Paints Arena. New York has won both meetings thus far, outscoring the Penguins 10-6. The game is available on Sportsnet Pittsburgh and MSGN. The puck drops at 5:30 p.m. ET. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjEwNjYwNDIwMDI3OTUwOTI5/thnpitbanner.png]
