The Penguins have a pretty good idea of what to expect from the New York Islanders when they meet tonight at 7:08 at PPG Paints Arena.
Mostly because they've seen it so consistently from the Islanders since Barry Trotz took over as coach on Long Island in 2018.
"They have a clear identity," Mike Sullivan said after the Penguins' game-day skate. "They're a team that's hard to play against. They play a conscientious defensive game. They're going to make you work for your chances, and they've got a pretty good counterattack game.
"We have a real clear understanding of the type of game we're in for. We just have to make sure we bring a certain level of urgency and discipline to our game that gives us the best chance to be successful."
The Penguins and Islanders split two games at Nassau Coliseum earlier this month -- New York won, 4-3, Feb. 6 and the Penguins won in a shootout, 4-3, last Thursday -- and, after games at PPG Paints Arena tonight and Saturday, will play another pair of games on Long Island next weekend.
Suffice to say, the Penguins will be quite familiar with the Islanders by the end of the month, although there's not much about New York that's likely to surprise them.
"It's a full 200-foot team," forward Brandon Tanev said. "They play the game, up and down the ice. They're very stingy. They play really good (defense) and don't give too many odd-man rushes or bad turnovers."
The Islanders give up an average of 2.2 goals per game, fourth-lowest figure in the NHL. That reflects the defensive commitment Trotz demands from his players.
"They're really, really well structured," defenseman P.O Joseph said. "They've a (competitive) team. For our game plan, we just have to stick to what we can control and what we can bring to the table."
ALSO FROM THE SKATE
• Tristan Jarry is scheduled to start in goal for the Penguins for the third game in a row. "We think he's really trending in the right direction here," Sullivan said. "We know he's a very capable goalie, and we're encouraged by the progress he's made in the last couple of games."
• The Penguins' penalty-killers were 5-for-5 during their 3-1 loss to Washington Tuesday, ending a streak of seven consecutive games in which they gave up at least one goal. "I think the last game was our best game for getting everybody on the same page, communicating and getting the job done," Tanev said.
• Sullivan said three injured players -- Evan Rodrigues, Brian Dumoulin and Jared McCann -- skated on their own before the game-day workout, and that injured defenseman Juuso Riikola skated with the taxi squad.
• In an unrelated matter, the Penguins announced the creation of the "Willie O'Ree Academy," which is intended to provide "training, social and mentorship opportunities" for Black youth hockey players participating in the Pittsburgh Amateur Hockey League and the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League. It is named after Willie O'Ree, the first Black player in NHL history, and will get underway in June with a nine-week training program.
