Game 35 Preview: Penguins Host Islanders

Matt Bodenschatz | Pittsburgh Penguins

Dec 21, 11:27 AM | Hype this story!

7:30 @ Mellon Arena
FSN Pittsburgh, FSN New York
Season Score: Penguins 2, Islanders 1
 
Inside The Game
Less than a week after Chris Simon stomped on Jarkko Ruutu’s foot, the Pittsburgh Penguins will play host to the New York Islanders.  Simon, however, will be watching the game from the press box as he serves his 30-game suspension.

Sidney Crosby is fresh off his first fight, and Evgeni Malkin, flying high after a two-goal night, will look to lead the Penguins to victory against the struggling Islanders.  But they might have to do it without their best defender, Mark Eaton, who left last night’s game with an undisclosed shoulder injury.  He likely will be replaced in the lineup by Brooks Orpik.

Dany Sabourin is expected to get the start in goal for the Penguins, while Rick Dipietro is the probable starter for the Islanders.
 
Prediction
The Penguins last night started out hot, cooled down, then finished hot, meaning they didn’t play a complete game — something that has plagued this team all season.  But an effort like last night almost surely will end in a victory against the struggling Islanders, who have won just twice in their previous 10 games.

_Final score: 5-1, Penguins, as they begin to turn things around in the Atlantic Division._
 
Standings
  GP W L OT Pts Division Conference League
Penguins 34 17 15 2 36 3, Atlantic 7, Eastern 16, NHL
Islanders 32 15 15 2 32 5, Atlantic 14, Eastern 27, NHL
                 
Team Stats
  GF GA PP% PK% Home Away L 10 Streak
Penguins 97 102 19.0 78.5 7-7-2 10-8-0 6-4-0 1 win
Islanders 72 89 16.3 85.0 10-7-1 5-8-1 2-7-1 2 losses
                 
Team Leaders
  Stat Penguins   Stat Islanders
Goals 16 Crosby Goals 10 Vasicek
Assists 30 Crosby Assists 16 Comrie
Points 46 Crosby Points 25 Comrie
PIMs 59 Malone PIMs 41 Simon
Wins 9 Fleury Wins 14 Dipietro
 
Injuries
Islanders Injury Islanders Injury
Eaton, DTD
Malone, DTD
Fleury, IR
Talbot, IR		 Shoulder
Leg Infection
Ankle
Ankle		 Bates
Johnson
Sim
 		 Hip
Knee
Knee surgery
 
       
Note: Info up-to-date as of 9:10 am, Thursday, December 20, 2007.

Comments

  1. DaBich

    Dec 21, 02:52 PM

    I’d love to see Malone back, if only for some defensive play from the offense to back up the depleted defense. Does that make sense?

  2. Matt Bodenschatz

    Dec 21, 05:57 PM

    Sure does. The PK needs to get the regulars back. Talbot and Malone are very valuable to this team. Don’t look for Malone tonight, though.

  3. DaBich

    Dec 21, 06:06 PM

    :(

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