Penguins at Islanders preview

PENGUINS (8-6-1) at ISLANDERS (11-3-0)
7 p.m. ET; MSG+, ATTSN-PT, NHL.TV

It's the second-longest winning streak in Islanders history. They won 15 in a row from Jan. 21-Feb. 20, 1982.
Pittsburgh, which hopes to avoid a three-game winless streak, will be without defenseman Kris Letang, who sustained a lower-body injury in the third period of a 6-4 loss at the Boston Bruins on Monday.
It's the first game between the teams since the Islanders swept the Penguins in the Eastern Conference First Round last season.

Players to watch

Penguins forward Dominik Kahun has scored in three straight games.
Islanders forward Josh Bailey has two goals and two assists in his past four games.

They said it

"I think you're always up for those games you play a team you faced prior. But that being said, it's a new team, a new situation. I think your approach is probably a little different, but I think it's good motivation." -- Penguins captain Sidney Crosby
"I don't think they're too worried about last year, holding high grudges. It's just another game. Both teams are in the same division, and obviously it's a big game anytime both of us play just because the points are so crucial right now and our division's so tight. It's a big game for both sides, but nothing extra I don't think is added." -- Islanders center Mathew Barzal

Penguins projected lineup

Jake Guentzel -- Sidney Crosby -- Dominik Simon
Alex Galchenyuk -- Evgeni Malkin -- Bryan Rust
Jared McCann -- Nick Bjugstad -- Dominik Kahun
Zach Aston-Reese -- Teddy Blueger -- Brandon Tanev
Brian Dumoulin -- John Marino
Marcus Pettersson -- Justin Schultz
Jack Johnson -- Juuso Riikola
Matt Murray
Tristan Jarry
Scratched:Sam Lafferty, Chad Ruhwedel
Injured:Kris Letang (lower body)

Islanders projected lineup

Anders Lee -- Mathew Barzal -- Josh Bailey
Anthony Beauvillier -- Brock Nelson -- Derick Brassard
Michael Dal Colle -- Casey Cizikas -- Cal Clutterbuck
Ross Johnston -- Cole Bardreau -- Oliver Wahlstrom
Adam Pelech -- Ryan Pulock
Devon Toews -- Scott Mayfield
Noah Dobson -- Johnny Boychuk
Semyon Varlamov
Thomas Greiss
Scratched:Otto Koivula, Seth Helgeson
Injured:Jordan Eberle (lower body), Leo Komarov (illness), Tom Kuhnhackl (lower body), Matt Martin (lower body), Nick Leddy (lower body)

Status report

Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said "it's probably not a probability" that Letang will play against the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday. … Malkin took a maintenance day Wednesday but will play. … Eberle and Leddy each participated in an optional morning skate. Leddy will miss his third straight game; Eberle hasn't played since Oct. 12. Each is day to day, per coach Barry Trotz. … The Islanders recalled Koivula and Helgeson from Bridgeport of the American Hockey League on Thursday and extended forward Andrew Ladd's conditioning stint in Bridgeport for two games.

Stat pack

Rust has a four-game point streak (two goals, two assists). … New York is 10-0-0 when it scores at least three goals. … The Islanders' penalty kill is 22-for-23 in the past seven games.