Game Preview: Islanders vs Penguins

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (10-6-4) VS PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (11-7-1)
5PM | NASSAU COLISEUM
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The New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins have seen a lot of each other in the month of February.
After finishing off a back-to-back set on Sunday evening, the East Division rivals will get a little breather from one another.

Sunday marks the sixth matchup between the Islanders and Penguins this month, and the second in as many days. The Islanders fell 4-3 in OT on Saturday night a Nassau Coliseum, a game in which they never trailed until Kris Letang's OT winner.
Brock Nelson, Mathew Barzal and Josh Bailey scored for the Islanders, who saw their two-game winning streak come to an end. Sidney Crosby, Jared McCann and Letang (2G) scored for the Penguins, who won their fourth-straight game over the Islanders.
"It's a good hockey club, they play hard, good power play," Barzal said. "Every time we play them it's a tough game, whether we have the puck more than them, or vice versa, it's moreso that both teams have a super-high compete level. It's unfortunate we haven't been able to get two points against them the past few times, but the end of the day, you have to tip your cap, they're competing just as hard."

ISLANDERS NOTES:

UPDATE: Ilya Sorokin will start in goal for the Islanders, his first appearance since a 20-save shutout on Feb. 16. Cal Clutterbuck skated this morning, but will not play tonight, per Barry Trotz.
- Despite the overtime defeat, the Islanders have yet to lose in regulation at Nassau Coliseum this season, going 6-0-2. The Islanders are the only team in the NHL without a regulation loss at home this season.
- With a point, the Islanders moved into third place in the NHL's East Division. The Islanders and Boston Bruins both have 24 points, but the Bruins have two games in hand. Both Philadelphia and Pittsburgh (23 points) sit one point back of the Islanders in the divisional gridlock, adding even more importance to Sunday's Isles-Pens tilt.
- Oliver Wahlstrom extended his point streak to three games with an assist on Brock Nelson's power-play goal in the first period. Wahlstrom has three points (1G, 2A) over that span.
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- Mat Barzal scored for the second-straight game on Saturday, as his cross-ice pass deflected off John Marino's stick and past Tristan Jarry. Barzal now has eight goals and a team-leading 18 points this season.
- Josh Bailey's second period goal snapped a 10-game goalless drought for the veteran winger.
- Michael Dal Colle returned to the lineup on Saturday after missing four games with a lower-body injury. Dal Colle played on a line with JG Pageau and Wahlstrom in his return.
- Cal Clutterbuck missed Saturday's game with an undisclosed injury and is considered day-to-day. In Clutterbuck's absence, Leo Komarov skated with Matt Martin and Casey Cizikas.
- Barry Trotz did not specify his starter for Sunday, but hinted at the possibility of an Ilya Sorokin getting a start to finish off the back to back. Sorokin recorded his first NHL win and shutout in his last start, Feb. 16 against Buffalo.

PENGUINS NOTES:

UPDATE: Casey DeSmith will start in goal for Pittsburgh. DeSmith is 4-1-0 with a 2.84 and a .885 SV% this season. His last start was a 26-save win over the Islanders on Feb. 11.
- The Penguins are 4-1-0 in their past five games, including three wins over the Islanders. Against the Islanders, the Penguins are 10-3-3 in their last 16 games.
- Letang had a game-high three points in Pittsburgh's win and extended his personal point streak to four games with seven points (4G, 3A) over that span. The defenseman has four goals in his past two games against the Islanders. Seven of Letang's 14 points this season have come against the Islanders.
- Jared McCann returned to the lineup on Saturday, playing in his first game since Feb. 6. McCann played alongside Evgeni Malkin and Bryan Rust in his return. McCann scored the game-tying goal 18 seconds into the third period.
- Kasperi Kapanen recorded his 100th career point on Saturday, picking up the primary assist on Kris Letang's second-period goal. Kapanen has 10 points (4G, 6A) in 16 games in his first season with the Penguins after coming over from Toronto.
- With an assist on Saturday, Jake Guentzel extended his point streak to four games, with five points (2G, 3A) over that span.
- Tristan Jarry improved to 3-1-0 against the Islanders this season.