First Of Two, Gm 72: Lines, Preview & How to Watch vs. Penguins

The New York Islanders (33-29-9) are back on UBS Arena ice Tuesday night as they host the Pittsburgh Penguins (42-22-10) in the first of a home-and-home. Puck drop is slated for 7:30 PM.

“Divisional game, you know, always huge, emotion, a team we played in playoffs a few times in recent years, so that always adds to it. So it should be an exciting test for us,” New York Islanders forward Brock Nelson said. “We want to play and win every game from here on out and that’s our mentality so it should be a good one tonight.”

With a win against the New York Islanders on Tuesday night, the Pittsburgh Penguins will clinch a playoff spot.

On Tuesday, the New York Islanders held an optional morning skate as just five forwards, three defensemen, and two goaltenders were on hand.

Forwards: Beau, Wahlstrom, Barzal, Nelson, Parise

Defenseman: Aho, Dobson, Hutton

Both goaltenders were on the ice for the skate.

Ilya Sorokin (23-14-7, .927 SV%, 2.27 GAA) was the first goaltender off the ice as he will make his 45th start of the season. Over his regular-season career against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Sorokin is 1-2-0, with a .915 SV% and a 2.08 GAA.

Forward Oliver Wahlstrom and defenseman Sebastian Aho stayed on the ice after practice. When asked if Barry Trotz was planning on making a lineup change, he said he was, but the player he planned to insert into the lineup was sick.

The Pittsburgh Penguins will be without Evgeni Malkin for four games after he was suspended on Monday by NHL Player Safety for his cross-check on Nashville Predators defenseman Mark Borowiecki this past Saturday.

In 70 career games against the New York Islanders, Evgeni Malkin has 32 goals and 52 assists (84 points).

Per Josh Getzoff, Casey DeSmith was the first netminder off the ice at Penguins morning skate. He will make his second consecutive start Tuesday night.

NEW YORK ISLANDERS LINEUP (PROJECTED)

Lee-Nelson-Beauvillier

Bailey–Pageau–Palmieri

Parise-Barzal-Wahlstrom

Martin–Cizikas–Johnston

Pelech–Pulock

Chara–Dobson

Greene–Hutton

Sorokin

Varlamov

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS LINEUP (PROJECTED)

Guentzel-Crosby-Rust

Zucker-Carter–Rakell

Rodrigues-Blueger–Kapanen

McGinn–Boyle–Heinen

Matheson–Letang

Dumoulin-Marino

Pettersson–Ruhwedel

Jarry

DeSmith

ISLANDERS GAME NOTES

The New York Islanders host the Pittsburgh Penguins tonight in the second of three matchups between the two clubs this season. This evening is the first of a home-and-home series between the clubs, as the Islanders are scheduled to visit Pittsburgh on Thursday.

The last time these teams met was November 26, at UBS Arena. The Islanders return home tonight after a five-game road trip, which they finished 3-2-0.

They are 5-2-0 in their last seven games, and six of the Islanders’ 11 remaining games will be against Metropolitan Division opponents.

BETTING CORNER

The New York Islanders are the home underdogs against the Pittsburgh Penguins, coming in at +105. They are -250  on the reverse puck line. The Penguins are -125 and are +205 on the puck line.

The over for the contest is set at 5.5, with both set at -110.

These lines are subject to change. Please gamble responsibly.

HOW TO WATCH:

Tuesday’s contest will be available on MSG+.  On the radio dial, the game can be heard on 1050 AM ESPN, 88.7 FM WRHU and 103.9 FM LI News Radio.