MATCH: Penguins vs. Islanders
TIME: 7 p.m. EST
PLACE: Barclays Center
TV: ROOT Sports
RADIO: 105.9 FM the X
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:
This is the second meeting of the year between the teams. The Pens defeated the Isles, 4-2, on Oct. 27 at PPG Paints Arena. … The Pens are looking to bounce back from a 7-1 loss to the Caps on Wednesday at Verizon Center. It was just their second regulation defeat in their last 10 contests. They are 3-0 this year following a regulation loss … The Isles are coming off a three-day layoff following a 4-0 setback to Tampa Bay on Monday at Barclays Center. … Matt Murray will start in goal for Pittsburgh. He left late in the first period of Wednesday's game after getting his helmet knocked off and taking a stick up high. He went through the concussion protocol and felt fine. It was a coach's decision to keep him out for the rest of the game, replacing him with Marc-Andre Fleury. "We felt it was the right thing to do at the time, to keep him out," head coach Mike Sullivan said of Murray. "He obviously has no issues. He feels strong. We want to try to get him right back in."
MORNING SKATE REPORT:
The Pens held an optional morning skate. Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang and Phil Kessel all stayed off the ice. Patric Hornqvist, who is day-to-day with a concussion, also did not skate. Chris Kunitz, who is day-to-day with a lower-body injury, did participate and Sullivan said he will be a game-time decision for tonight.
With Hornqvist likely out and Kunitz a game-time decision, there is a chance Scott Wilson could slot back in after being a healthy scratch the last two games. "The last game I had there I got away from what I do best and tried to do a couple things differently," Wilson said. "I think for me, I just took it as it was and just tried to improve to get in there again." If he does get back in, Wilson said it's important for him to be physical. "Sometimes I find myself running around a little bit," he said. "But that's part of my game and I think I'm engaged all around when I'm being physical, so I think that's the biggest thing."
