PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Losses in his two matchups against them this year, but 10-3 in his career against the Islanders, Tristan Jarry will start for the Pens hosting New York Thursday night. After practicing yesterday, forwards Mikael Granlund and Bryan Rust are expected to return.
Jarry gave up five goals in his other meeting against the Islanders on December 27 and gave up three in the loss on February 20. In last 82 minutes and 37 seconds, Jarry has given up eight goals. In the two games prior at Nashville and St. Louis three goals on 52 shots. Since his return from injury, six games, 20 goals on 130 shots, an .867 save percentage.
Winless vs. Isles
· The first matchup the Islanders took control with three goals in the second and the Pens managed only 21 shots on Ilya Sorokin in a 5-1 loss in New York. The Isles had twice as many shots in that lopsided loss in December.
· The second game the Pens had a 3-1 lead and then up 4-2 on the road until Anders Lee (4 goals in the first 2 matchups) scored with 28 seconds left in the second and the Islanders owned the third for a 5-4 win.
· Pens had a lead again going into the third period in the third matchup at home before the Islanders scored three in the third. Sorokin made 44 saves in the win as New York has outscored the Pens 6-0 in the third period this year.
"I thought, besides the first one, the last two we gave ourselves a chance to win, Sorokin played great," said Pens defenseman Brian Dumoulin. "We had lapses at critical moments of games where they capitalized on opportunities."
"I think it's a little more attention to detail. Try to continue to bring our forecheck, make it work in the defensive zone. Try to limit their chances in the offensive zone. They like to shoot a lot of pucks, get pucks through with some big bodies in front of the net. We just have to believe in ourselves."
"I do think it's little things," Rust said. "It's shifts after goals, shifts late in periods or beginning of periods. Those are things we've been trying to clean up and things that were evident in games against them."
"The last couple of games against them, we've done some really good things," said Pens captain Sidney Crosby. "We probably didn't do a great job of adding to the lead. They hung around and we didn't build on a lead. It wasn't a lack of continuing to push forward or sitting back or anything like that. We just didn't execute and find a way to extend leads. Hopefully we can get another lead. Get a better start than last game and find a way to put a few in."
"I think we can learn from the experiences," Sullivan said. "There are some things we did really well that brought us success in those games and then there are areas where if we managed the game better we could have better results. There are learning opportunities."
"We understand where we are at and the importance of these games. The Islanders are another team we are battling for a playoff spot and by nature of having less games, the games take on that much more meaning. I know the guys are excited for the challenge. They are a really good hockey team. We got to bring our very best."
The Islanders are one point up on the Pens for the top Wild Card spot, but have played three more games than Pittsburgh.
New pairing
Combined they were a minus-two in their first game together. Jan Rutta said put it on him and they expect the Rutta-Dmitry Kulikov pairing to be better against the Islanders.
"I didn't help him very much," Rutta said of their first game together. "Made it pretty hard for him. I will do everything I can to make it easier for him tonight. I wasn't able to handle the puck."
"As the game went on, we started to play pretty good taking care of our zone and helping out in the O-zone," Kulikov said. "He's a good player, you can see the compete level. We are like-minded in the way we play the game. The more we play and practice with each other, the more comfortable we are going to feel."
Pens practiced Wednesday with Brian Dumoulin paired with Jeff Petry and Marcus Pettersson with Kris Letang. Sullivan will not comment on lineups day of game, saying they are game-time decisions.
