Game 3 Preview: Islanders vs Penguins

GAME 3: ISLANDERS VS PENGUINS
BEST-OF-SEVEN SERIES TIED 1-1
7 PM | NASSAU COLISEUM
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The New York Islanders were looking for at least a split in Pittsburgh and they got it, coming home with a crucial road win and a series tied 1-1.
The Islanders needed at least one victory in Pittsburgh to win their First Round series and with one in the bag, they've essentially taken home ice advantage back from the Penguins.

"It's important to at least get a split," Head Coach Barry Trotz said after Game 2. "If you don't get the split in a best-of-seven, you have to win four-of-five games and that's really tough to do that in this league against very good teams. Getting a split was crucial and I don't think anybody would come in here and be like hey we're going to win both. I think you go in with the plan to win both, but it doesn't happen a lot."
The Islanders are 9-10 all-time in series in which they've split the first two games.
UPDATE: The Islanders are going with the same skaters from Game 2. Trotz did not reveal his goaltender. Evgeni Malkin took line rushes with the Penguins on a line with Kasperi Kapanen and Jason Zucker per Pens Inside Scoop. Evan Rodrigues appears to be coming out for Malkin.

RETURNING TO THE COLISEUM:

The series now shifts to Long Island, where the Islanders have been excellent during the regular season, posting a 21-4-3 record, their best home record in the Post-Cup era.
The Islanders are expecting an extra boost from returning home, as capacity inside Nassau Coliseum has been upped from 1,400 fans to upwards of 6,000. The building is expected to be raucous for Thursday night's game and the Islanders are looking to harness that energy, especially after feeling the rush of playing in front of 9,000 hostile fans in Pittsburgh.
"It just gets me excited to get to the Coli," Scott Mayfield said. "That's the biggest thing. It was nice to play in front of fans again. I think we're allowed a little bit more for our next game and it'll be fun and loud in there and hopefully we can have a start like they did."
The influx of fans could be coming at the right time, as the Penguins were able to win a pair of games on the Islanders ice this season with no one in the building. As good as the Islanders home record was, they were also 2-2-1 in their last five games.

A RUSSIAN GOALIE WILL START:

Semyon Varlamov returned to the lineup on Tuesday after missing Game 1. After an uncharacteristic goal early in the first period, Varlamov was rock solid the rest of the way, making a season-high 43 saves.
Trotz gave a passionate endorsement of Varlamov after the game when asked about the decision to not go back to Ilya Sorokin after a Game 1 win. The Islanders' coach called Varlamov the Islanders number one, citing his league-leading seven shutouts and team shutout records, though the team has affirmed all season their confidence in both goaltenders.
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Trotz did not tip his hand for Game 3, but assured that a Russian goalie will start for the Islanders.

GETTING OUT TO A FASTER START:

The Islanders have been chasing the Penguins through the first two games of the series, only leading for 3:43 in 136:30 of play.
The Penguins have recorded 18 and 19 shots in the first periods of Games 1 and 2, respectively and are a quick-starting team per Trotz.
"There's no magic pill that I can give everybody to have a good start, it comes from within," Trotz said. "They have to simplify and be ready to go and I'm sure they're ready to go, but they've got to not ease into the game, they have to establish it right off the bat. It's on the room to do that. They know. We've talked about getting off to a good start. Best way you can is to simplify your game, get after them, get determined win your battles and usually it works out that way.
So far the team that has scored first have won each game and both teams, though the Islanders quickly surrendered their early lead in Game 1. The Islanders were 23-2-2 when scoring first during the regular season, while Pittsburgh was 23-4-2.

Tweet from @NYIslanders: Bring the noise. Bring the energy. pic.twitter.com/HEa3jIjTC6

PENGUINS NOTES:

Evgeni Malkin made the trip to Long Island, but his status is unknown for Thursday night. Malkin has not played in either game of the series and had missed 23 games during the season with a knee injury.
Backup goaltender Casey DeSmith also missed his second-straight game with a lower-body injury, but will not accompany the team to Long Island.
Tristan Jarry will almost certainly start in goal for a third-straight game. The Penguins' netminder was sharp on Tuesday night, stopping 37 shots in the 2-1 win, a solid bounce-back effort after Sunday's 4-3 OT loss.