Game 6 Preview: Islanders vs Penguins

GAME 6: ISLANDERS VS PENGUINS
6:30 PM | NASSAU COLISEUM
ISLES LEAD SERIES: 3-2
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The New York Islanders can advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a win on Wednesday night.
The Islanders currently lead the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 in their best-of-seven series and if all goes well in Game 6, the Islanders can advance on Coliseum ice for the first time since 1993. A win would also propel the Islanders past the First Round for a third-straight season, something the team has not done since advancing seven-straight times from 1979-85.

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A CHANCE TO ADVANCE:

The Islanders are 11-1 all-time in series they lead three games to two, while Pittsburgh is 7-8 all-time in series they trail three games to two.
A lot of that is in the past, but the Islanders do have some closeout experience from last year's run to the Eastern Conference Final. Head Coach Barry Trotz referenced the Islanders 4-0 shutout win over the Philadelphia in last year's second round, a game where the Islanders dismantled the Flyers and held their opponents to 16 shots.
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"We've had some of our best games in the clinchers," Trotz said. "I go back to the Philadelphia series, Washington we very good. We got to our game and stayed to our game. That would be the statement. When we get to our game and stay with our game in those really important clinching games, we've had success… Even the loss to Tampa Bay last year, we played a pretty solid game when our backs were against the wall."
"Our guys have responded and I'm pretty confident they will tomorrow," Trotz added.

WAHLSTROM'S STATUS:

Trotz did not have an update on Oliver Wahlstrom, who left Game 5 in the second period after an awkward collision with Mike Matheson and did not return.
"He's being looked at right now," Trotz said during his Tuesday availability.
The Islanders' coach said if the rookie, who has three points (1G, 2A) in five playoff games, can't go, veteran Travis Zajac is likely the next man up.
"If something were to happen a guy like Travis Zajac would come to mind," Trotz said. "He's had many of these moments and plays a couple of positions. He's at the forefront right now if we have to do anything with Wahlstrom."
Zajac has 57 games of playoff experience, including a run to the 2012 Stanley Cup Final, with New Jersey. The veteran center had two points (1G, 1A) in 13 games with the Islanders during the regular season, but found himself in and out of the lineup down the stretch. Zajac would give Trotz some flexibility in his lineup decisions, if the coach were inclined to tinker with his lines.

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COLISEUM CROWD INCREASED:

Even at half capacity, Nassau Coliseum was bumping for Games 3 and 4. So with the number of fans jumping from 6,800 to 9,000, the atmosphere is expected to hit another level for Game 6.
That's exactly how the Islanders want it.
"The atmosphere in our building that our fans provided the last couple of games - I think everyone can see it, we can certainly feel it and it gave us a boost," Josh Bailey said after Game 5. "We expect the same in two days."

PENGUINS NOTES:

The Islanders are expecting a desperate Penguins group on Wednesday night. Even with a 3-2 series lead, the Islanders have only led for 35:36 combined through five-plus games, while Pittsburgh has led for 160:38. While the Islanders won on Monday, the Penguins out-attempted them 85-43, so it's been a very competitive set of games.
Jason Zucker had a maintenance day while Bryan Rust left the Penguins practice early to be with his wife and newborn son, per Pens Inside Scoop.
Backup goaltender Casey DeSmith has not returned to practice and will not join the team on Long Island, so Tristan Jarry will start again on Wednesday.
Kris Letang has overtaken the Penguins scoring lead with five points (1G, 4A), all of which have come in the past three games.