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Islanders vs. Penguins: Playoff Race Heats Up
31 Mar
Summary
- Islanders and Penguins are separated by one point.
- Key players Malkin and Crosby are questionable for the Penguins.
- Islanders' defense has improved significantly in recent games.
Monday's game between the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins is a pivotal regular-season matchup, with only one point separating the two teams in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Both clubs are battling for position among a crowded field of contenders. The Islanders have eight games remaining, while the Penguins have nine.
Injuries are a concern for both sides. Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby are questionable, having practiced Sunday but not yet cleared. The Islanders will be without defenseman Tony DeAngelo.
Defensively, the Islanders have trended positively over their last 10 games, improving their expected goals allowed per 60 minutes to 2.54 and reducing high-danger chances against. Conversely, the Penguins' defensive metrics have slightly worsened in the same period, allowing more expected goals and high-danger chances. The Islanders possess a stronger goaltender in Ilya Sorokin compared to Pittsburgh's netminders, Stuart Skinner and Arturs Silovs.
