Game Preview: New York Islanders at Pittsburgh Penguins
Sunday, 03.10.2013 / 12:00 AM
/ News
By Greg Picker
PrintNew York Islanders 11-11-3 (25 points – 4th in Atlantic Division, 10th in Eastern Conference) 6-3-1 road |
Pittsburgh Penguins 16-8-0 (32 points - 1st in Atlantic Division, 2nd in Eastern Conference) 6-4-0 home |
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| 7:00 p.m. CONSOL Energy Center Pittsburgh, PA Television: MSG+ Play-by-play: Howie Rose; Color: Butch Goring Radio: WHRU 88.7 FM Chris King: Play-by-play; Phil Giubileo: Color |
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| Season series (1-1-0) The Islanders make their second trip to Pittsburgh this season after winning the first battle in the Steel City 4-1 on Jan. 29. Casey Cizikas scored his first career goal to open the scoring. Evgeni Nabokov made 34 saves and was just 1:09 from a shutout. The Isles then fell to Pittsburgh 4-2 at Nassau Coliseum on Feb. 5. Jan. 29, 2013: NYI 4, PIT 1 - RECAP, BOX SCORE, HIGHLIGHTS Feb. 5, 2013: PIT 4, NYI 2 - RECAP, BOX SCORE, HIGHLIGHTS |
Penguins player to watch James Neal - Left WingPlaying in his second full season with the Penguins, Neal has picked up right where he left off from a year ago. Through 25 games this season, Neal has 25 points (16 goals, nine assists). His 16 goals are tied for third in the NHL with John Tavares. His eight goals on the man advantage lead the league. |
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| Islanders Storylines •The Isles come into Sunday’s game with at least one point in each of their past five games (3-0-2). •After a seven-game home stand saw the Islanders go 3-3-2, Sunday’s game is the first of three consecutive on the road. •John Tavares and Matt Moulson are tied for second in the NHL with seven power play goals apiece. •This is the first of three games against the Penguins in less than three weeks. Pittsburgh is one of two teams (New Jersey) the Isles face five times this season. |
The Matchup | |||
| Islanders 23.7% (23/97) 81.6% (71/87) 74 82 5-3-2 |
Power play Penalty kill Goals for Goals against Last 10 games |
Penguins 25.8% (24/93) 79.6% (74/93) 86 71 7-3-0 |
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| New York Islanders projected lines Forwards 26 Matt Moulson - 91 John Tavares - 24 Brad Boyes 12 Josh Bailey - 51 Frans Nielsen – 21 Kyle Okposo 40 Michael Grabner – 16 Marty Reasoner – 41 David Ullstrom 17 Matt Martin - 53 Casey Cizikas – 13 Colin McDonald Defensemen 3 Travis Hamonic - 47 Andrew MacDonald 14 Thomas Hickey – 11 Lubomir Visnovsky 2 Mark Streit - 4 Radek Martinek Goaltenders 20 Evgeni Nabokov 60 Kevin Poulin |
Pittsburgh Penguins projected lines Forwards 14 Chris Kunitz – 87 Sidney Crosby - 9 Pascal Dupuis 18 James Neal – 71 Evgeni Malkin - 19 Beau Bennett 24 Matt Cooke – 16 Brandon Sutter - 48 Tyler Kennedy 10 Tanner Glass – 15 Dustin Jeffrey - 27 Craig Adams Defensemen 7 Paul Martin - 44 Brooks Orpik 2 Matt Niskanen – 58 Kris Letang 5 Deryk Engelland - 47 Simon Despres Goaltenders 29 Marc-Andre Fleury 92 Tomas Vokoun |
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Quote of the Day "I think we found our identity; we found out what kind of team we are. Now we have to play our game, game-in and game-out to be successful. We’re starting to do that, and there are still going to be some bumps in the road, but it’s only going to take our hard work and our pursuit to get over them. That’s what we’ve done so far.” Forward Casey Cizikas, on finishing the home stand |
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