Many Penguins have identified their Jan. 4 win over the Islanders in Brooklyn as the turning point in their season.
It wasn't just that they won, or that Sidney Crosby had a season-high four points, or that Daniel Sprong scored two goals in -- what appeared to be at the time -- a breakout performance, or that Tristan Jarry made 31 saves for his second career shutout.
Instead what the players point to was ... the ride to the rink. Seriously.
Coming off a dispirited 4-0 home loss to the Hurricanes a night earlier that had been their eighth in their last 12 games, the Penguins were forced to fly to New York the day of the game, a rarity for NHL teams. But instead of chartering to the Metropolitan area, they were diverted about 85 miles north to Newburgh, N.Y., near the U.S. Military Academy. The Penguins then had to bus two-hours through the weather to Brooklyn.
The camaraderie forged on that trip, they say, spawned a four-game winning streak and a resurgence back into the playoff contention.
The Penguins won't bus to PPG Paints Arena but they could use another inspired effort after losing three in a row following Thursday night's humbling 8-4 loss to the Bruins in Boston.
1. Penguins have got to bury their chances.
No team has allowed more goals than New York with 232 and it's not even close (Ottawa is a distant second with 217). The Penguins scored four goals in each of their previous two games against the Islanders -- both wins --- and should certainly get some chances again tonight against the porous Isles.
The Islanders are also averaging a league-worst 35.7 shots against per game. In the Penguins' 4-3 OT win on Dec. 7, the 32nd and final shot was Matt Hunwick's game winner:
Following their loss to Pittsburgh on Jan. 4, the Islanders went on to win three straight but have since hit the skids, winning just six of 19 games and falling out of playoff contention. The Islanders will also be playing the tail end of a back-to-back after playing Friday night at home against the Canadiens and losing, 6-3.
For a team that is looking to get back on track, the Islanders come at a perfect time for the slumping Penguins. But they have to capitalize on it. Scoring goals, however, hasn't been the problem, preventing them has been ...
2. Concerted effort to team defense.
Those were the words spoken most often following the Penguins' 8-4 loss in Boston.
Granted, Casey DeSmith and Tristan Jarry haven't been very good in their last few outings but they also haven't had much defensive help in front of them as Boston's Rick Nash found out Thursday:
The mistakes the Penguins have been making -- not winning puck battles, giving up too many odd-man breaks, leaving the defensive zone too early -- are all correctable errors. But it's one thing to say it and another to do it.
The Penguins will need to simplify things to dig their way out of their current slump, especially with the shaky goaltending behind them. They are at their best when they are winning possession and playing within themselves. Given their superior talent, that's usually been a recipe for victory.
3. Beware of Barzal.
No one is quite sure what the future holds for John Tavares in New York. The Islanders captain is an unrestricted free agent in the summer and will command top dollar on the open market. New York ownership is hoping to woo Tavares back with a new arena to be built near Belmont Park, closer to the team's Long Island roots.
Failing that, the Islanders will still have Mathew Barzal to build around. Barzal will undoubtedly win the Calder Trophy becoming the fifth Islander to do so, following Denis Potvin (1973-74), Bryan Trottier (1975-76), Mike Bossy (1977-78) and Bryan Berard (1996-97).
Barzal, the 16th overall pick in 2015, leads the Islanders in assists (49) and points (67) entering Friday and is running away with the rookie scoring title. A dynamic offensive playmaker, Barzal can shoot the puck, too, as the Penguins discovered. Here's a reminder:
Above was his goal against Jarry on Dec. 7. Barzal didn't need much time or space to put this shot past Jarry, who was completely fooled. And Phil Kessel? Guy is never going to win the Selke, but he might still be trying to figure out what happened.