Islanders at Penguins
THE STORY: The New York Islanders travel to Pittsburgh for the
first game of a home-and-home with the Penguins on Tuesday. This is the
fifth of six meetings, with the finale set for Thursday on Long Island.
The Penguins won the first four meetings and 11 straight home games
versus the Islanders. Pittsburgh has clinched a playoff berth, while New
York is on the verge on being eliminated from playoff contention.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG Plus 2 (Islanders), ROOT Sports (Penguins)
ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (31-33-11):
The Islanders are likely going to play the role of playoff spoiler and
miss the postseason for a fifth consecutive season. New York sits 12th
in the Eastern Conference and is 11 points behind the Washington
Capitals for the final playoff spot in the East with seven games
remaining. Center John Tavares has 75 points on 173 Islanders goals (43
percent) and is on pace to become only the second Islander to record
points on more than 40 percent of the team's goals in a complete season
(Zigmund Palffy, 41% in 1997-98).
ABOUT THE PENGUINS (47-22-6):
The Penguins trail the New York Rangers by one point for the Atlantic
and Eastern Conference lead. Both teams have seven games left.
Pittsburgh has won 14 of its last 16 games thanks in part to a strong
campaign from center Evgeni Malkin. The Russian sniper was named the
NHL’s First Star of the Week after recording five goals and nine points
in four games. Malkin will equal his career-high of 47 markers set in
2007-08 with his next goal. He is also four goals shy of becoming the
ninth player in team history to reach the 50-goal mark in a single
season.
OVERTIME:
1. Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre
Fleury is 4-0-0 with a 1.22 goals against average and .954 save
percentage versus the Islanders this season.
2. Pittsburgh is 17-2-3 in the last 22 meetings.
3.
Penguins forward Pascal Dupuis is in the midst of a 10-game points
streak (eight goals, five assists) and leads the team with seven points
(two goals) against the Islanders this season.