Islanders Game 37: Rematch; Hogberg Starts, Lines & How to Watch

PITTSBURGH — The New York Islanders (14-15-7) look to win their second consecutive game for a third time this season. The added difference this time comes in the fact that it’s a direct rematch from last night against the Pittsburgh Penguins (16-16-5). This year, the Islanders are 2-0-0 against the Penguins, with one comeback from 3-1 down and last night’s survival from an attempted Pittsburgh comeback.

This is the first meeting in Pittsburgh this year, with the next coming in March. Last time in Pittsburgh, Adam Pelech scored an overtime winner in a thriller that finished 5-4.

The Islanders look to claw their way back to NHL .500 with a win, which would put them ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins with just a little more than half the season left to play.

Marcus Hogberg makes his first NHL start since April 28, 2021, with the Ottawa Senators. Islanders Head Coach Patrick Roy admitted he expects nerves from his goaltender but said there’s no excuse not to come out strong for him.

For all the negativity that’s swirled, the Islanders are still just three points out of a playoff spot. It’s truly remarkable, but nobody has run away with that final playoff spot.  The Ottawa Senators currently hold the final Wild Card Playoff Spot.

For Pittsburgh, they hope Sidney Crosby can actually set their franchise assist lead tonight after he not only had his record-breaking apple stripped but also went a dreadful -3 against the Islanders last night.

Pregame, Roy said that statistic makes Crosby “human,” but the Islanders should expect a strong push from 87 in front of his home crowd.

Islanders Lines:

Anders Lee–Mathew Barzal–Jean-Gabriel Pageau

Anthony Duclair–Brock Nelson–Kyle Palmieri

Maxim Tsyplakov–Bo Horvat–Simon Holmstrom

Kyle MacLean–Casey Cizikas–Hudson Fasching

Defense

Alexander Romanov–Noah Dobson

Adam Pelech–Ryan Pulock

Isaiah George–Scott Mayfield

Goalies: Marcus Hogberg

Possible Penguins Lines

Rickard Rakell-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust

Michael Bunting-Evgeni Malkin-Anthony Beauvillier

Drew O’Connor-Cody Glass-Phil Tomasino

Matt Nieto-Blake Lizotte-Noel Acciari

Defense

Matt Grzelcyk-Erik Karlsson

Ryan Graves-P.O Joseph

Ryan Shea-Nathan Clurman

Goalie: Alex Nedeljkovic

Special Teams

Penguins power play: 24.5%, 8th. Penguins penalty kill: 82.7%, 7th.

Islanders Power Play: 11.7%, 32nd. Islanders Penalty Kill: 64.9%, 32nd.

Game Notes:

Brock Nelson is two goals away from tying Pat LaFontaine and Brent Sutter for the fifth-most goals in franchise history.

The Islanders are 3-1-0 in their last four games in PPG Paints Arena.

The Islanders have won four straight games against the Penguins, all of which came in 2024. This is the final 2024 meeting. In total, New York has gone 8-2-0 in their last 10 against the Penguins.

However, The Penguins are 6-1-0 in their last seven home games.