Coming off a frustrating 3-2 loss at home to the Ottawa Senators, the Pittsburgh Penguins don’t have much time to dwell on what went wrong. And that’s probably a good thing. Less than 24 hours after that setback, they’re back at it - this time on the road in a pivotal Metropolitan Division showdown against the New York Islanders.
It’s a quick turnaround, but also a golden opportunity. The Penguins had rattled off six straight wins before Monday’s stumble, and now they get the chance to reset and respond in a game that carries real weight in the standings.
Pittsburgh enters the night sitting second in the division, two points ahead of the third-place Islanders - and they’ve still got two games in hand. This one matters.
Rust Returns, and That’s Big
One of the biggest storylines heading into Tuesday night is the return of Bryan Rust. The top-line winger just finished serving a three-game suspension for a hit to the head of Vancouver’s Brock Boeser - a suspension the Penguins didn’t exactly agree with - and his absence has been felt.
Rust brings more than just energy and grit. He’s third on the team in goals (18) and fourth in points (39), and his chemistry with Sidney Crosby is well-established.
In the three games without Rust, Crosby managed just one assist and didn’t register a single shot on goal in the last two. That’s not a trend anyone expects to continue with Rust back on his wing.
Crosby still leads the team with 58 points and is tracking for his 21st straight season averaging over a point per game - a staggering stat that speaks to his consistency and greatness. But even the greats benefit from the right linemates, and Rust is definitely that.
Lineup Shuffles Ahead
With Rust back in the mix, there’s a bit of a lineup puzzle to solve. Justin Brazeau had been filling in alongside Crosby and Rickard Rakell on the top line, but he’s expected to slide back into a third-line role with Ben Kindel and Anthony Mantha - a trio that’s shown some real chemistry when deployed together. That likely leaves rookie Rutger McGroarty as the odd man out, at least for now.
In Net, Look for Skinner
Arturs Silovs gave the Penguins a chance to steal one on Monday night, but with games on back-to-back nights, it’s expected that Stuart Skinner will get the nod in goal against the Islanders. Skinner’s been solid, and with the Penguins looking to bounce back in a high-stakes matchup, he’ll be counted on to deliver.
Kris Letang remains out with a broken foot, so the Penguins’ blue line will once again need to hold steady without their veteran anchor.
Islanders Also on the Back-to-Back
The Islanders aren’t coming in fresh either. They played Monday night in Washington and gave up four unanswered goals in a 4-1 loss to the Capitals. That’s two straight losses for New York after a three-game win streak, and they’ll be looking to right the ship just as urgently as Pittsburgh.
Special Teams Could Be the Difference
If this game comes down to special teams - and it very well might - the Penguins hold a distinct edge. Their power play is clicking at 26.8%, good for fourth in the league, and their penalty kill ranks just as high at 84%.
Compare that to the Islanders, who sit 26th in power play efficiency (16%) and ninth in penalty kill (82.1%). That’s a battle Pittsburgh would love to lean into.
Recent Trends to Watch
The Penguins have been road warriors lately, winning four straight away from home and going 7-1-0 in their past eight on the road. Since the Christmas break, they’re 13-3-2 overall - one of the hottest teams in the league despite Monday’s hiccup.
Anthony Mantha has been on a heater, posting five goals and 10 points in his last seven games. Igor Chinakhov, a midseason addition, has been a quiet revelation with seven goals and 10 points in just 16 games as a Penguin.
And then there’s Crosby’s history against the Islanders - 44 goals and 139 points in 91 career games. He’s made a habit of showing up big in this rivalry.
Pittsburgh is 3-3-3 on the second night of back-to-backs this season. The Islanders, meanwhile, are 5-2-0 in that same situation. Both teams are used to the grind, but only one can come out of this one with a critical two points in the division race.
Projected Penguins Lines
Forwards
Rickard Rakell - Sidney Crosby - Bryan Rust
Igor Chinakhov - Tommy Novak - Evgeni Malkin
Anthony Mantha - Ben Kindel - Justin Brazeau
Connor Dewar - Blake Lizotte - Noel Acciari
Defense
Brett Kulak - Ryan Shea
Ilya Solovyov - Connor Clifton
Parker Wotherspoon - Erik Karlsson
Goalie (expected): Stuart Skinner
Projected Islanders Lines
Forwards
Ondrej Palat - Bo Horvat - Mathew Barzal
Emil Heineman - Jonathan Drouin - Simon Holmstrom
Anders Lee - JG Pageau - Anthony Duclair
Kyle MacLean - Casey Cizikas - Marc Gatcomb
Defense
Matthew Schaefer - Ryan Pulock
Adam Pelech - Tony DeAngelo
Carson Soucy - Scott Mayfield
Goalie (expected): Ilya Sorokin
How to Watch
TV: National broadcast
Radio: 105.9 The X
This one’s got all the ingredients: divisional stakes, returning stars, and two teams looking to bounce back. Buckle up - it should be a good one.