Game 2 Preview: Islanders vs Penguins

NEW YORK ISLANDERS VS PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
GAME 2: NYI LEADS SERIES 1-0
7:30 PM | NASSAU COLISEUM | BUY TICKETS
WATCH: MSG+ | MSG GO | NBCSN | CBC | TVA2 | NHL.TV
LISTEN: 88.7FM WRHU | 103.9FM LI NEWS | RADIO.COM/ISLANDERS
GAME NOTES | MORNING SKATE UPDATES
GAME 1 RECAP:
Josh Bailey scored the OT winner as the Isles beat the Pens 4-3 in Game 1 on Wednesday night. Jordan Eberle, Brock Nelson and Nick Leddy scored to give the Isles 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 leads, while Phil Kessel, Evgeni Malkin and Justin Schultz scored tying goals for the Penguins.
Tom Kuhnhackl had two goals disallowed in the contest. Robin Lehner made 41 saves for his first playoff win. Matt Murray made 29 saves in the loss.

ISLANDERS NOTES:

• The Islanders are looking to take a 2-0 series lead for the first time since the 1983 Stanley Cup Final. The Isles have won the opening game of seven series in the interim, yet lost game two all seven times.
  - Barry Trotz said the goal for the Islanders will be to move forward and put Wednesday's win behind them. The Isles coach said win or lose, the Isles need to approach the next game as a clean slate.
  "Don't look back, that one's done," Trotz said. "You better look forward and focus on tomorrow night and the first shift."
  "No matter what happens you have to turn the page, good or bad and get ready for the next one," Josh Bailey said. "You can't be fat and happy about anything. You have to make sure you're ready to go the next game."
  - Anthony Beauvillier took a maintenance day on Thursday. Michael Dal Colle practiced in Beauvillier's spot in his absence. UPDATE: Beauvillier is "probable" to play in Game 2, according to Trotz. Beauvillier said he feels good to go.
  - The Islanders are 1-for-2 on the power play in the series. The penalty kill is 2-for-3.

• The Islanders are counting on another rowdy crowd at Nassau Coliseum on Friday night. To a man, the Isles said the energy in the building played a role in the Game 1 win.
  "We've been getting asked about it obviously since we came back in December. Obviously, this was a different level," Cal Clutterbuck said after Game 1. "You think you remember how loud it is until you get back into it. It's awesome. I hope people continue to show up and support us that way."
  - Jordan Eberle scored his first-career playoff goal on Wednesday, in what was his 14th career playoff game. Eberle's two points lead the Islanders and match his total career playoff production (two assist in 13 games). The 28-year-old said he's motivated to make an impact in the postseason and move past a frustrating 2017.
  "I had waited so long to get into the playoffs, finally had a chance and didn't play well," Eberle said. "You try and move on from it and it sucks. You don't ever want that title. It definitely motivated me throughout the last couple of years. You finally get an opportunity here and it's something you don't want to let it down."
  - Robin Lehner made 41 saves to earn his first-career playoff win on Wednesday.

Video: Focus: Game 2

PENGUINS NOTES:

• Brian Dumoulin and Erik Gudbranson both practiced on Thursday, according to Pens Inside Scoop. Both players briefly left game one for evaluations, but returned to the contest.
  - The Pens are likely to go back to the same lineup for Friday's Game 2, per Pens Inside Scoop.
  - Evgeni Malkin's goal and assist in Game 1 gives the Penguins forward 13 points (3G, 10A) in seven playoff games vs the Islanders.
  - Phil Kessel and Justin Schultz also recorded multi-point games for the Penguins.
  - Sidney Crosby was held off the scoresheet in game one, the first time in six career playoff games against the Islanders.
  
  *Graphic courtesy of Islanders PR