Tonight's matchup:
6-2-2 vs 
3-3-0Game time 7:00 PM, Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, NY
TV: ROOT Sports, MSG+
Radio: WXDX and the Penguins Radio Network, WRHU
GOALTENDING MATCHUP
Marc-Andre Fleury, 5-2-0, 2.13 GAA, .926 SV% vs Evgeni Nabokov, 1-1-0, 2.53 GAA, .921 SV%
FAST FACTS
*Penguins Center Evgeni Malkin skated in the gameday skate with Steve Sullivan and James Neal this morning. He is a game time decision.
*Goalie, Islander 4 Life, and Erstwhile Punching Bag Rick DiPietro will be on the bench for the Islanders. He has been out since taking a puck to the face. Or slipping on a banana peel or something.
*Pens Winger James Neal is second in the league in goals, behind Toronto's Phil Kessel.
*Center John Tavares is 6-4-10, leading the Isles in goals and points.
QUOTABLE
"I just like to have a secret over you guys for the next six hours or so." - Head Coach Dan Bylsma on why Malkin is a Game Time Decision
“I think every time we play Pittsburgh it’s a big game. It’s a division game. At this day and age every game is a rivalry, you have to get two points no matter how, no matter what.” - Islanders forward PA Parenteau
"His work ethic – his teams play hard. They play the right way. They spend a lot of time in the offensive zone, for sure. Penalty killing is one thing I spent some time with him on here. He’s done a great job there and he deserves all of the credit that he’s gotten." - Islanders Head Coach Jack Capuano on former Islanders co-assistant Dan Bylsma
LAST MEETING
The Penguins won, 4-3 in a shootout. Chris Kunitz potted the only goal in the shootout.
INJURIES
Sidney Crosby and Tyler Kennedy are out with concussions.
Zbynek Michalek is out with a broken hand.
Brian Strait is out with an elbow injury.
For the Islanders, Milan Jurcina, Mark Katic, Rhett Rakhshani, and Nino Niederreiter are out.
TONIGHT'S GORDIE HOWE HAT TRICK (for your pregame or intermission enjoyment):
Goal: Geno with a sick move
Assist: That's right, it's a Hans Jonsson sighting. German Titov sets up his first (only? j/k) NHL goal.
Fight: 2 hits, Johnson hitting DiPietro, DiPietro hitting the ice.
Respect the game, Respect the other posters, keep the JuJu good, remember that pucks, like baseballs, can sometimes leave the playing surface, and most importantly, have fun!
Enjoy the game!
LET'S GO PENS!!!
