Islanders at Penguins
THE STORY: Sidney Crosby will make his return to the ice after
missing 61 regular-season games with a concussion when the Pittsburgh
Penguins host the struggling New York Islanders on Monday. The 2007 NHL
MVP, who was cleared for contact in mid-October, last played Jan. 5
against Tampa Bay after he had 66 points in the first 41 games of the
2010-11 season. Crosby has 18 goals and 62 points in 32 career games
against the Islanders. New York is in a free fall after a promising 3-1
start with two wins in its last 13 games. Pittsburgh has won five of the
last six against the Islanders, including both this season.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, CBC, Versus, MSG (New York), ROOT Sports (Pittsburgh)
ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (5-9-3):
The Islanders started the season with three goalies on the roster. One
is left, and it isn’t likely the one you would expect. Al Montoya and
Evgeni Nabokov are hurt with Rick DiPietro in the No. 1 slot, backed up by rookie Anders Nilsson, who is scheduled to start Monday night. Forwards John Tavares (16) and P.A.
Parenteau (14) have scored almost one-third of the team’s points. Kyle
Okposo, without a goal in 14 games, is expected back in the lineup after
being a healthy scratch in three straight. David Ullstrom, a forward
with 12 goals in 17 American Hockey League games, was called up Sunday.
ABOUT THE PENGUINS (11-6-3): Crosby, who reportedly will play with
Chris Kunitz and Pascal Dupuis, hopes to help the Penguins break out of a
1-3 slide. Evgeni Malkin, who had been on an upswing, produced 11 shots
and no points in the two-game trip to Florida. James Neal was also held
pointless. Neal leads the team with 12 goals and 20 points, and Jordan
Staal has 10 and 16, respectively. Marc-Andre Fleury had the night off
Saturday against the Florida Panthers and should be back in net Monday
with a 10-3-1 record and 2.04 goals against average.
OVERTIME:
1. The Penguins, who led the NHL in penalty killing Thursday morning, are only 6-for-10 the last two games.
2. Islanders forward Matt Martin led the NHL in hits with 77 through Saturday.
3. Pittsburgh defenseman Kris Letang is among the league leaders in ice time at 26:38 per game.