Game Preview: Islanders at Penguins

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (22-18-14) AT PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (24-21-7)

7 PM ET | PPG PAINTS ARENA

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The New York Islanders are headed to the Steel City to take on the Pittsburgh Penguins in hopes of snapping a three-game winless skid (0-1-2) on Tuesday night. 

The Islanders picked up a point in a 6-5 in overtime loss to the New York Rangers in the 2024 Stadium Series on Sunday. Brock Nelson, Bo Horvat, Mathew Barzal, Anders Lee and Alexander Romanov built a 5-3 lead with 4:08 left in the third period before the Rangers rallied with two power-play goals to tie the game. The Islanders allowed an overtime goal from Artemi Panarin 10 seconds into the extra frame, which accounts for the earliest overtime goal allowed in franchise history.

The Penguins dropped a 2-1 decision to the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday night. Sidney Crosby buried his team-leading 31st goal of the season, but the Penguins offense dried up after that, as Adrian Kempe scored two goals late in the third period to win in regulation. Tristan Jarry made 29 saves in the loss. 

The Islanders trail in the season series 0-2-0 after two losses in December where they were outscored 10-1 in the span of two games. After Tuesday’s contest, the Islanders and Penguins will conclude the season series in the final game of the regular season for both teams. 

The Islanders (58 points) are chasing the Detroit Red Wings (64 points) by six points for the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference, though the Isles have a game in-hand. Detroit won 4-3 in overtime against the Seattle Kraken on Monday.

MORNING SKATE UPDATES

- Hudson Fasching (sick, day to day) did not skate with the team and will not slot into the lineup against the Penguins. 

- Ilya Sorokin was the first goalie off the ice, suggesting he'll get the nod against Pittsburgh. Sorokin is 16-12-11 this season with a .910 SV% and a 3.12 GAA. 

- Alex Nedeljkovic is the confirmed starter for the Penguins. The 28-year-old netminder is 9-4-3 in his first season with Pittsburgh, along with a .919 SV and a 2.54 GAA. He made 38 saves in a 3-1 Penguins win on Dec. 31, in his only appearance against the Isles.

ISLANDERS NOTES

- The Islanders penalty kill allowed a goal in seven of the last eight games and has allowed three-or-more goals in a game for the fifth time of the season on Sunday night. The shorthanded unit ranks 32nd in the league (70.7%) and is 11-for-27 (59.3%) since Jan. 21st.

- Brock Nelson scored in his second career outdoor appearance on Sunday while adding to his team-leading 23 goals on the season.

- Mathew Barzal extended his point streak to seven games (4G, 5A), which marks a season-long. The winger is on the cusp of 300 career assists with 298. Barzal racked up 22 points (7G, 22A) through 26 career games against the Penguins.

- Noah Dobson recaptured the team lead in points (58) after posting a three-point (3A) performance against the Rangers on Sunday. The outing marked the sixth time of the season Dobson registered three or more points. His 51 assists are second among all defenseman in the NHL, while he also became the second defenseman in Islander history to hit the 50-assist mark through 54 games, joining Denis Potvin.

- Anders Lee snapped a nine-goal drought with the Islanders' fourth goal at the beginning of the second period on Sunday night. The captain has 14 goals and seven assists through 54 games this season. Lee recorded a team-best five shots on goal and a team-high six hits on Sunday against the Rangers.

- The Islanders are 15-8-8 against Eastern Conference opponents and 7-4-5 against the Metro this season.

PENGUINS NOTES

- The Penguins have lost four of their last five games (1-4-0) and rank seventh in the Metropolitan Division with 55 points.

- The Penguins recalled Magnus Hellberg from the Wilkes-Barre Scranton of the AHL on Monday. The 32-year-old netminder made three appearances for the Penguins this season, along with a .922 SV% and a 2.50 GAA.

- Jake Guentzel (IR, upper-body) suffered an injuiry on Wednesday against Florida and is expected to miss up to four weeks. The 29-year-old is second on the team in scoring with 52 points (22G, 30A).

- Head Coach Mike Sullivan said his recall was for precautionary reasons, as one of his two incumbent goaltenders was not feeling well, but he did not reveal whether it was Tristan Jarry or Alex Nedeljkovic. Hellberg was on the roster for Sunday’s game but did not dress for the contest.

- The Penguins held practice on Monday and saw progress from two injured forwards, who skated but not with the team. Matt Nieto, who is coming back from knee surgery, skated as well as Noel Acciari (IR, lower-body).

- Sidney Crosby leads the team in goals (31) and points (55), while defenseman Erik Karlsson leads with 31 assists.

- The Penguins claimed Matthew Philips off waivers on Friday and he made his Penguins debut in Sunday’s 2-1 loss to the Kings. The 25-year-old winger appeared in 27 games for the Washington Capitals this season and registered five points (1G, 4A).

- Pittsburgh’s penalty kill (81.8%) ranks ninth in the league, while their power play ranks 30th, converting at 13.7%.

- The Penguins lead the NHL in faceoffs (55.8%)