The Old Barn will be rocking on Long Island. The New York Islanders closed out the regular season by securing home-ice advantage for the first time since 1988. Once it was confirmed that they will face the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round of the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs, it didn’t take long for the team to one-up their postseason foe on Twitter.
*on* Long Island. https://t.co/NI978zdml7
— x - New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) April 7, 2019
After missing the postseason the last two seasons, New York enjoyed an unexpectedly successful campaign. Not only was there a shakeup in the coaching staff and front office up last summer, but the organization lost team captain John Tavares via free agency to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Nonetheless, the Islanders finished second in the Metropolitan Division with a 48-27-7 record (103 points), their most points in a season since the 1983-84 campaign (104) — the last time the franchise appeared in a Stanley Cup Final.
SN STAFF PREDICTIONS:
Eastern Conference | Western Conference | Stanley Cup
As for Pittsburgh, winner of two of the past three Stanley Cups and three in the last decade, it was another characteristically strong season. Led by Sidney Crosby’s sixth career 100-point season, Pittsburgh finished third in the Metropolitan Division.
This will be the fifth time that the Islanders and Penguins face off in the playoffs. If all-time history is any indication, the Islanders may have the edge as New York has won three of the four postseason series between the two teams. However, Pittsburgh was victorious in the most recent meeting, defeating the Islanders in the 2013 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals in six games.
But the key focus in this series will be the chess match between bench bosses Mike Sullivan, who led Pittsburgh to the 2017 Stanley Cup and 2018 Stanley Cup champion Barry Trotz.
New York Islanders (+120) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (-140): Schedule, breakdown, prediction
| Date | Matchup | Time (TV channel) |
| April 10 | Game 1 at NY Islanders | 7:30 p.m. ET (NBCSN, CBC, TVA) |
| April 12 | Game 2 at NY Islanders | 7:30 p.m. ET (NBCSN, CBC, TVA) |
| April 14 | Game 3 at Pittsburgh | Noon ET (NBC, SN, CBC, TVA) |
| April 16 | Game 4 at Pittsburgh | 7:30 p.m. ET (NBCSN, CBC, TVA) |
| *April 18 | Game 5 at NY Islanders | TBD |
| *April 20 | Game 6 at Pittsburgh | TBD |
| *April 22 | Game 7 at NY Islanders | TBD |
(*if necessary)
Season series
The Islanders and Penguins split their four-game regular season series this season. While the teams were pretty evenly matched, 12 goals for Pittsburgh and 11 for New York, it was special teams that ultimately decided this one. Pittsburgh has a potent power play and went 3-for-14 with the man advantage; the Islanders netted only one power-play goal in 12 chances. Both teams will look to stay out of the box as even one trip to the sin bin can decide an entire series.
| DATE | ROAD | HOME | RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 30 | Islanders | Penguins | NYI, 6-3 |
| Nov. 1 | Penguins | Islanders | NYI, 3-2 (SO) |
| Dec. 6 | Islanders | Penguins | PIT, 6-2 |
| Dec. 10 | Penguins | Islanders | PIT, 2-1 (SO) |
Offense
If there is one area the Islanders have struggled, it has been burying the puck consistently. At the conclusion of the regular season, New York finished 22nd in the league in goals scored (223); one of two postseason teams (Dallas Stars) ranked in the bottom third.
The Islanders did enjoy strong offensive seasons from several players, including 2018 Calder Trophy winner Mathew Barzal, who led the Islanders with 62 points (18 goals, 44 assists) in his All-Star sophomore campaign. Josh Bailey (16 goals, 40 assists), Brock Nelson (25 goals, 28 assists) and captain Anders Lee (28 goals, 23 assists) rounded out the top scorers for New York.
Across the rink, the Penguins are, well, the Penguins. A notorious powerhouse when it comes to scoring they netted 3.30 goals-per-game this season. Finishing sixth-most in goals scored in the NHL goals in the NHL (268), led by four 20-plus goal scorers. Jake Guentzel (40 goals), Sidney Crosby (34 goals), Phil Kessell (27 goals) and Evgeni Malkin (21 goals) all played pivotal roles in the Penguins' offense.
Edge: Never in question, the Pittsburgh Penguins
Defense
Under their new head coach, the Islanders transformed into one of the NHL's premier defensive teams. In fact, the Islanders became the first team to go from worst to first in goals against since the Ottawa Senators 100 years ago (1917-19).
Defensemen such as Johnny Boychuk, Ryan Pulock, and even rookie Devon Toews, played key roles in the organizations' revamped defensive schematic. Adam Pelech led the way for the Islanders with a plus-22 plus/minus.
“Yeah, I think that’s a combination of the forwards and the defense,” Trotz told reporters in late December. “I think they’ve learned to defend better. That’s an area where (the defensemen) have gotten more help from the forwards as well. They’ve been around the net. They’ve been much better.”
The Penguins will hope that getting Brian Dumoulin — who missed the team's last four games due to a lower-body injury — back will help their chances. Dumoulin creates a dynamic duo on the Penguins' left side along with three-time Stanley Cup champion Kris Letang. While it remains to be seen if Pittsburgh tinkers with any of its defenseman, Sullivan admitted that the Isles' strong defense is a concern entering the first round.
“They’re a very stingy team defensively,” Sullivan said Saturday night. “They’re tight checking. They’re one of the better teams in the league as far as goals against. That’s been their identity this year — defense-first.”
Edge: New York Islanders
Goaltending
Without solid goalies occupying the net, there wouldn't be a discussion of the Islanders' defensive prowess. Due to their play this season, Thomas Greiss and Robin Lehner will split the honors of the William M. Jennings Trophy, which is given to the goaltender(s) having played a minimum of 25 games for the team with the fewest goals scored against.Sixth @pepsi shutout for @RobinLehner and the 11th between the two @NYIslanders goalies.
— NHL (@NHL) April 7, 2019
What a year. pic.twitter.com/fQb1OE7Wh1
Lehner (25-13-5, 2.13 GAA, .930 save percentage, six shutouts) and Greiss (23-14-2, 2.28 GAA, .927 save percentage) were among the NHL leaders in GAA and save percentage.
The Penguins’ duo of Matt Murray (2.69, .919) and Casey DeSmith (2.75, 9.16) did an admirable job considering they backstopped a team that allowed 33.3 shots/game (sixth-worst).
Edge: Lehner should be a Vezina Trophy finalist, so New York Islanders
Special teams
If the Penguins can target one major weakness in the Islanders’ game, it will be New York’s power play. The Islanders tallied just 33 power-play goals (16-pct. effective) all season, tied with the Nashville Predators for second-lowest in the league.
If the Islanders struggle with the power play early on in the series, fans can go back to Trotz’s request from late March: give the Isles some leeway before boing their poor result.
“Come on, our guys are human,” Trotz said. “You’re coming up the ice and they’re booing you, well, guys are trying to look for the great play. Well, give us a break here. We need your help in that aspect.
"Power play is not good, we deserve to get booed. But give us a couple of them. If it’s the third or fourth one [of the game] and we’re not doing anything, then you can boo. But give us a chance. In our own rink, give us an advantage. We need it.”
Conversely, that was not a problem for the Penguins, who finished the year with 56 power play, good for sixth best in the league. The Penguins are specialists when up a man. Crosby and Phil Kessel alone combined for 24 goals — and Kessel finished fifth in the NHL with 36 power-play points. Then factor in Evgeni Malkin, Letang and Jake Guentzel and there is no denying skill Pittsburgh has.
Edge: Both teams were middle-of-the-road on the penalty kill (NYI: 79.9; PIT: 79.7), so figure Pittsburgh to utilize their potent power play.
Key players to watch
Sidney Crosby (PIT): Is there really anybody else who requires as much focus than the Penguins captain? 'Sid the Kid' finished the regular season strong, notching his 100th point (35 goals, 65 assists) Saturday night against the New York Rangers for his sixth career 100-point — and first since 2013-14. At 31, he remains one of the NHL’s elite players, capable of taking over a game at a moment’s notice.
While his regular seasons are always something to keep an eye on, the postseason is where the three-time Stanley Cup champ and two-time Conn Smythe winner excels. In 160 career playoff games, he has 66 goals and 119 assists, good for T-19th and 12th all-time, respectively. How he goes is how the Penguins go, and if the Penguins advance it's a good chance he'll be leading the way.
Robin Lehner (NYI): This is Robin Lehner's game, and we're here for it as the veteran netminder put on a show this season. In a rebound season, both on and off the ice, Lehner has been a brick wall in net for the Islanders. Last season he posted a losing record (14-26-9) with a 3.01 GAA and .908 save percentage. This season he has posted some of the best numbers of his career and is a sure-fire finalist for the Vezina.
It'll be interesting to see how the Swede does in the playoffs considering he has never started a playoff game. His two appearances in the postseason came way back in 2013 with Ottawa (0-1, 2.43 GAA, .920 save percentage) against, you guessed it, the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Islanders vs. Penguins playoff history
Sure, the Penguins defeated the Islanders six years ago, and there are a few players remaining from that series on both teams, but let's be honest 1993 is the matchup everyone remembers.
Pittsburgh, the number one team in the NHL, led by the likes of Hall of Famers Mario Lemieux, Larry Murphy, Ron Francis, Joe Mullen and (not yet, but soon) Jaromir Jagr was upset by the scrappy kids, and the lone Hall of Famer — head coach Al Arbour, from Long Island in seven games.
| YEAR | RESULT |
|---|---|
| 2013 | PIT def. NYI in conference quarterfinal in seven games |
| 1993 | NYI def. PIT in division final in seven games |
| 1982 | NYI def. PIT in division semifinal in five games |
| 1975 | NYI def. PIT in NHL quarterfinal in seven games |
Last five playoff appearances
New York Islanders
| YEAR | FINISH |
|---|---|
| 2016 | Lost in second round to TB in five games |
| 2015 | Lost in first round to WSH in seven games |
| 2013 | Lost in conference quarterfinal to PIT in six games |
| 2007 | Lost in conference quarterfinal to BUF in five games |
| 2004 | Lost in conference quarterfinal to TB in five games |
Pittsburgh Penguins
| YEAR | FINISH |
|---|---|
| 2018 | Lost in second round to WSH in six games |
| 2017 | Won Stanley Cup |
| 2016 | Won Stanley Cup |
| 2015 | Lost in first round to NYR in five games |
| 2014 | Lost in second round to NYR in seven games |
Islanders vs. Penguins prediction
Islanders in six