The New York Islanders are in Pittsburgh tonight, facing the only team to beat them in their last 14 games. Here’s the pre-game report.
Here are the projected lineups, according to Wes Crosby:
NEW YORK
Anders Lee - Mathew Barzal - Jordan Eberle Anthony Beauvillier - Brock Nelson - Derick Brassard Josh Bailey - Casey Cizikas - Cal Clutterbuck Michael Dal Colle - Otto Koivula - Leo Komarov Adam Pelech - Ryan Pulock Nick Leddy - Johnny Boychuk Devon Toews - Scott Mayfield Semyon Varlamov Thomas Greiss PITTSBURGH Jake Guentzel - Evgeni Malkin - Bryan Rust Dominik Kahun - Jared McCann - Brandon Tanev Alex Galchenyuk - Joseph Blandisi - Dominik Simon Zach Aston-Reese - Teddy Blueger - Sam Lafferty Brian Dumoulin - John Marino Marcus Pettersson - Justin Schultz Jack Johnson - Juuso Riikola Matt Murray Tristan Jarry Semyon Varlamov is expected to start for the Islanders. Despite a very good season overall, he’s struggled a bit in his last two games, allowing eight goals on 66 shots. I’m liking the Islanders’ lineup here (minus Noah Dobson being a scratch of course), in keeping Josh Bailey with Casey Cizikas and Cal Clutterbuck. Otto Koivula will get into his second game, centering Michael Dal Colle as well as Leo Komarov (who’s play style would make him a good fit for the fourth line long-term). I do wonder how much more patience the Islanders have with Dal Colle. We all want him to work out, I’m just not sure it’s really going to happen. Matt Murray is expected to start for Pittsburgh. The Penguins are 7-3-1 at home, while New York is 5-1-0 on the road. Pittsburgh is facing a bit of adversity in the form of injuries, with Sidney Crosby, Patric Hornqvist, Nick Bjustad and Kris Letang all out. Puck drop is at 7 p.m.
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