When you sign-up through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more >
Where: PPG Paints Arena – Pittsburgh, PA.
When: Tuesday, April 16, 7:30 PM EST
How (TV/Radio): NBC Sports, MSG+, MSG, AT&T Sportsnet Pittsburgh | WFAN
Head Coach: Barry Trotz {All-Time 810-595-60-141 NYI, WAS, NSH}
After not making the playoffs last season, The New York Islanders head into Tuesday nights game with the opportunity to knock off the 2016 and 2017 Stanley Cup champions in the very first round. And to do it in only four games! Head coach Barry Trotz has the Isles playing with fire and it shows in the scoring: New York has outscored Pittsburghs dynamite offense 11-5.
Forward Jordan Eberle has stood out as the offensive playoff performer for New York. Eberle has three goals and two assists through the first three games. He has a 25 per cent shooting and has a clean 50 per cent in faceoff percentage.
Another big playoff performer for the Islanders is goaltender Robin Lehner, who is expected to get the start in net for game four. In the regular season, Lehner went 25-13-5. Through round one, Lehner is 3-0 with a goals against average 1.63 and a save percentage of .952 through 185 minutes of play. He leads all goaltending stats for round one.
Head Coach: Mike Sullivan {All-Time 244-148-15-57 PIT, BOS}
The 2016 and 2017 Stanley Cup champions are facing a first-round sweep against their division rivals. The Penguins were defeated last year in the second round by the eventual champs – the Washington Capitals. They havent been eliminated in the first round since 2015.
Forward Evgeni Malkin leads the Penguins in offense with one goal and two assists through the first three games. He has one powerplay goal and his shooting percentage is only at eleven per cent. Forwards Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel are still searching for their first points of these playoffs.
Matt Murray will be given the start in net for game four. Murrays regular season saw him go 29-14-6 but is 0-3 in the playoffs. His goals against average during the first three games is 3.33 and his save percentage is .902. He is the only goalie without a win to have a save percentage over .900. He could steal game four single handedly.
Series recap (New York Islanders leads 3-0) – Game one: 4-3 (OT) New York, Game two: 3-1 New York, Game three: 4-1 New York
Can Pittsburghs usually dynamic offense, consisting of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Phil Kessel, et al, start firing on all cylinders?
Can Pittsburgh goalie Matt Murray pull off a show-stealing performance and take game four for the Pens?
Can New York pull of the upset and sweep the former Stanley Cup champs for the chance to quite possibly play the defending champs in round two?
F Tanner Fritz – IR (hand)
F Andrew Ladd – day-to-day (torn ACL)
D Chad Ruhwedel – day-to-day (upper-body)
If you reside in New Jersey, you can bet on the New York Islanders vs Pittsburgh Penguins here:
Sportsbook | New York Islanders | Pittsburgh Penguins | Link |
---|---|---|---|
888Sport NJ | +143/td> | +175 | |
BetStars NJ | +145 | -167 |
* 21+ | NJ only | If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER
Ryan Bristlon is a Canadian writer currently residing in Hamilton, Ontario. He studied print and broadcast journalism at Humber College and has been a lifelong fan of the sport of hockey and the NHL.
Email: [email protected]
More info on Ryan Bristlon
© Rebel Penguin ApS 2023 (a subsidiary of Gaming Innovation Group Inc.)
We support responsible gambling. 21+ Only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
WSN.com is run by iGaming Cloud Inc (a Gaming Innovation Group Subsidiary) and is registered with the New Jersey
Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) under affiliate vendor ID
89744,
with the Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) under certificate of registration number SWR-000148, approved by
the
Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board as a gaming service provider, under certificate registration number
117656-1,
possesses a Vendor Minor sports betting license from the Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission (account
number 94414163), granted a vendor registration number VR007603-20-001 by the Michigan Gaming Control Board,
an
interim Sports Wagering Supplier license, under license number SWS 066, issued by the West Virginia Lottery
Commission, a sports betting vendor registration, under registration number #100400, issued by the Director
of
Gaming Licensing and Investigations of the Virginia Lottery to operate in the State of Virginia, and a
Vendor
Registration issued by the Sports Wagering Committee of the Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation.
Advertising disclosure: WSN contains links to online retailers on its website. When people click on our
affiliate links and make purchases, WSN earns a commission from our partners, including ESPN and various
sportsbooks.