The Pittsburgh Penguins (19-9-5, 43 points, T-3rd Metro) look to bounce back from a loss by picking up a victory on the road Tuesday when paying a visit to UBS Arena in Elmont, New York to play the New York Islanders (19-14-2, 40 points, 6th Metro). Pittsburgh was defeated by the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 on Thursday prior to the break for Christmas. However, the Penguins have won seven of the last nine. New York defeated the Florida Panthers 5-1 on Friday in their final game before the Christmas break. Pittsburgh will play without Jeff Petry, while Josh Archbold and Ryan Poehling are questionable. New York will play without Cal Clutterbuck, Kyle Palmieri and Semyon Varlamov while several others are questionable.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are allowing an average of just 2.88 goals per game which is 13th best in the NHL. Pittsburgh is allowing an average of 33.5 shots per game which is 28th. The Penguins have a very strong penalty-kill unit that is holding opponents scoreless 84.8% of the time the Penguins are short-handed which is second best in the league. Pittsburgh goalie Tristan Jarry is 15-3-4 with a 2.67 goals-against average and .920 save percentage. Jarry has one shutout in 22 appearances between the pipes for the Pens.
Pittsburgh is scoring an average of 3.42 goals per game which is seventh best in the NHL. The Penguins are averaging 32.7 shots per game which is ninth-best and Pittsburgh has the 13th best power play, scoring 23.2 percent of the time the Penguins have the man advantage. Sidney Crosby has 19 goals, 24 assists and 43 points to lead Pittsburgh in each category. Jake Guentzel has scored the second most goals with 15, while Evgeni Malkin is second in assists with 22. Guentzel is second in points with 33. Pittsburgh has scored 26 goals on the power play in 33 games.