Playoff Gameday: Islanders Game 3 Lines, Matchups and Game Notes vs. Pens

EAST MEADOW, N.Y. — The best of seven series between the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins shifts to Long Island tonight for Game 3 with things all even at one.

The Islanders took the first game in overtime off a game-winning goal by Kyle Palmieri and then dropped Game 2 after they allowed two goals in the first period. After two slow starts in the first two games, the Islanders are hoping to draw off the anticipated raucous atmosphere at the Nassau Coliseum, where 6,250 fans will be welcomed in to watch Game 3.

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It is the largest crowd the Islanders have played in front of at home since the COVID-19 Pandemic halted the 2019-20 season last spring. The game is also their first home playoff game since April 19, 2019, against the Carolina Hurricanes.

The New York Islanders are 9-10 all-time after splitting the first two games of a playoff series, according to Eric Hornick.

New York and Pittsburgh have played tight games since the series started on Sunday, with one goal serving as the difference in the first two games. It matches how the regular season series had gone between the two sides, with a single goal being the difference in five of their eight meetings.

“It’s exciting, we’re looking forward to puck drop tonight. The increased amount of fans will be fun, I’m sure it’ll be loud in there.”

⬇️ Josh Bailey ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/JvGPiFOMHC

— x – New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) May 20, 2021

“At the end of the day it just comes down to playing hard and sticking together,” Josh Bailey said. “Sometimes you need some favorable bounces. I think two pretty evenly matched teams. We’re going to try to come out here tonight and give it our best and try and take Game 3.”

No changes are expected to the Islanders lineup this evening, head coach Barry Trotz said following the team’s skate at Northwell Health Ice Center. He did not divulge who would start in net other than saying a Russian goalie would play.

Semyon Varlamov was the first goalie off the ice this morning, which could mean he will start in goal. He made 43 saves in the Islanders 2-1 Game 2 loss on Tuesday.

“You have to trust what you’ve been doing all year,” Trotz said about his lineup decisions. “You’re going to have a line that doesn’t have, for instance, a good first period. Do I blow that up and do something different? Yes or you trust that they can get their game back. That’s just the feel some nights. You feel like blowing out because you don’t feel that they’re going to get it back or you keep it together and you challenge them. … It’s a balance.”

Pittsburgh could very well have a change to its lineup tonight. Evgeni Malkin took part in the team’s morning skate across the street at Nassau Coliseum, as well as was part of the line rushes.

Malkin skated alongside Jason Zucker and Kasperi Kapanen. Malkin is a game-time decision for Pittsburgh, according to head coach Mike Sullivan.

That’s Malkin at the morning skate — our NYI reporter @C_Arnold01 is on it! pic.twitter.com/wyIxzGJjUR

— Dan Kingerski (@TheDanKingerski) May 20, 2021

New York Islanders Lines (Projected)

Leo Komarov — Mathew Barzal — Jordan Eberle

Anthony Beauvillier — Brock Nelson — Josh Bailey

Kyle Palmieri — Jean-Gabriel Pageau — Oliver Wahlstrom

Matt Martin — Casey Cizikas — Cal Clutterbuck

Adam Pelech — Ryan Pulock

Nick Leddy — Scott Mayfield

Andy Greene — Noah Dobson

Semyon Varlamov

Ilya Sorokin

Pittsburgh Penguins Lines (Projected)

ake Guentzel — Sidney Crosby — Bryan Rust

Jason Zucker — Evgeni Malkin — Kasperi Kapanen

Jared McCann — Jeff Carter — Frederick Gaudreau

Zach Aston-Reese — Teddy Blueger — Brandon Tanev

Brian Dumoulin — Kris Letang

Mike Matheson — Cody Ceci

Marcus Pettersson — John Marino

Tristan Jarry

Maxime Lagace

Game Notes

How to Watch

Locally tonight’s game can be viewed on MSG and MSG+. Nationally the game will air on NBCSN. On the radio dial, the game can be heard on 98.7 FM ESPN New York, 88.7 FM WRHU and 103.9 FM LI News Radio.