Penguins
Penguins Game 38, Rematch! Lines, Notes, & How to Watch vs. Islanders
The Pittsburgh Penguins (16-16-5) slipped back to .500 with a tough-sledding 6-3 loss to the New York Islanders Saturday (14-15-7) at UBS Arena. In a callback to their first two months of the season, the Penguins’ mistakes led directly to Islanders goals, and the Penguins’ comeback fell short when they allowed a third-period breakaway goal later in the third period.
The teams face off again just 22 hours later, this time at PPG Paints Arena. The puck drops just after 5:30 p.m.
Read More: Penguins Grades: Bad Habits Roar, Karlsson Pans Team Performance
No, we don’t know what the schedule makers were thinking, either. But enjoy the early game–you shouldn’t have to leave early to beat traffic or get home to go to bed.
Anders Lee and Casey Czikas each scored twice, though Lee had the easier time. He was given credit for Kris Letang’s own goal and later scored the empty netter.
Sidney Crosby was initially given an assist on the first-period Penguins goal, but scorers later rescinded it, meaning Crosby temporarily broke Mario Lemieux’s franchise assist record.
“Tonight was not one of our better nights,” Karlsson said Saturday night. “I don’t think that we were engaged enough, both physically and mentally. I think they were a better team than us for pretty much the entire game.”
The Islanders still have the worst special teams in the NHL, cratering both on the power play and penalty kill. The Penguins did net one power-play goal Saturday.
So, Round 2. Alex Nedeljkovic is the likely starter for the Penguins. Will Islanders coach Patrick Roy ride Ilya Sorokin on back-to-back nights or turn to Magnus Hogberg? We like the odds of Sorokin, again.
Possible Penguins Lines
Rickard Rakell-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust
Michael Bunting-Evgeni Malkin-Drew O’Connor
Anthony Beauvillier-Cody Glass-Phil Tomasino
Matt Nieto-Blake Lizotte-Noel Acciari
Defense
P.O Joseph-Kris Letang
Matt Grzelcyk-Erik Karlsson
Ryan Graves-Ryan Shea
Goalie: Alex Nedeljkovic
Islanders Lines
Anders Lee–Mathew Barzal–Jean-Gabriel Pageau
Anthony Duclair–Brock Nelson–Kyle Palmieri
Maxim Tsyplakov–Bo Horvat–Simon Holmstrom
Kyle MacLean–Casey Cizikas–Hudson Fasching
Defense
Alexander Romanov–Noah Dobson
Adam Pelech–Ryan Pulock
Isaiah George–Scott Mayfield
Goalie: Ilya Sorokin
Special Teams
Penguins power play: 24.5%, 8th. Penguins penalty kill: 82.7%, 7th.
Islanders Power Play: 11.7%, 32nd. Islanders Penalty Kill: 64.9%, 32nd.
Penguins Game Notes
Games between the Islanders and Penguins usually need extra time. The Penguins have just seven regulation losses in their last 27 matchups vs. New York dating back to Nov. 1, 2018 (13-7-7).
At home, the Penguins have points in 10 of their last 11 games against the Islanders (7-1-3).
The Penguins are 6-1-0 in their last seven home games.
The Penguins have killed off 19 of their last 20 penalties (95%) over their last eight games dating back to Dec. 10.
Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust each have 10 goals and nine assists in the last 14 games.
How to Watch
TV: SportsNet Pittsburgh
Radio: 105.9 The X
Read This Next
Recommended
It’s time to sit O’Connor.
I sure hope that last night was just shaking the rust off and they haven’t fallen back into their old habits. The first line was terrible defensively. That cannot happen as those guys are the only really consistent line the team has. As Sid goes, so do the Penguins!
I like DOC as an energy player but he needs to score if he’s going to play top six minutes. It’s time to sit him for a game or two or move him down the lineup. How about giving Puljujarvi a chance to play with Geno?
Free Jesse P, put him in O’Conner’s spot, move O’Conner to Nieto’s spot, and show Mr. Matt Nieto the press box please.