The New York Islanders were widely regarded as a legitimate playoff contender before the season, but few people -- outside of their organization, anyway -- viewed them as a serious contender for the East Division championship.
Nonetheless, the Islanders are tied with Washington for the top spot as they prepare to face the Penguins tonight at 7:08 at PPG Paints Arena.
New York and the Capitals have 48 points each, four more than the third-place Penguins.
Because the games tonight and Monday are the final regular-season meetings between the Islanders and Penguins, this will be the Penguins' final opportunity to narrow that cap with New York.
Nonetheless, Mike Sullivan said after the game-day skate Saturday that his team isn't looking at it quite that way.
"Every game is an opportunity to establish ourselves in a playoff position, and that's how we have to look at it," he said. "This is a big game, an important game, (but) we're not going to look beyond it. We're just going to try to put our best game on the ice."
The Penguins have done that reasonably well against the Islanders in 2020-21. They are 4-2 in the season series, while New York is 2-2-2.
The Islanders' forte, as usually is the case with a Barry Trotz-coached team, is team defense. They are allowing a league-low average of 2.21 goals per game.
"They're very good defensively," Jared McCann said. "They like to sit back and make you make a mistake. We have to be smart (about) the way we play with the puck."
New York's ability to capitalize on opportunities with the man-advantage could be a pivotal variable in the next few games. Its power play is just 2-for-21 in its past eight games, dropping the Islanders to 17th place in the NHL rankings, with a conversion rate of 20.2 percent.
They have, however, scored on six of 12 chances with the extra man against the Penguins this season, so damage-control while shorthanded will be a priority for the Penguins.
"Obviously, they have a good squad out there, good shooters," said Frederick Gaudreau, who has been an effective penalty-killer in his short time with the Penguins. "They move the puck well. It's a matter of focusing on our little details and making sure we do what we can do best."
MORE FROM THE SKATE:
• Tristan Jarry will be in goal tonight.
• Injured winger Jason Zucker participated in the game-day skate, albeit in a no-contact jersey, and is "making really encouraging progress," according to Sullivan. Injured forwards Teddy Blueger and Brandon Tanev skated with skills coach Ty Hennes before the team went on the ice, although Sullivan confirmed that Tanev will not play tonight.
• Center Mark Jankowski did not take part in the skate. Sullivan did not offer an explanation, but said there will be "more on his status" later.
• McCann, who had two power-play goals and five shots in the Penguins' 4-0 victory against Buffalo Thursday, acknowledged that he has emphasize getting pucks on goal when his team is up a man. "I think I have to have a shoot-first mentality," he said. "I have a decent shot and I have to look to use it a little bit more."