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Before the season, NBC Sports selected tonight’s New York Islanders vs. Pittsburgh Penguins match as a featured game for their “Rivalry Night” series.
Joke’s on them!
Alright, that snark aside, these teams do have a rivalry that... wait, the FAN is having Boomer and Carton call the game tonight on radio?
Joke’s on us and all of humanity!
Why they would do that is beyond me other than typical gimmickry and corporate media consolidated cross-promotion.
So, back to the ice. The Islanders and Penguins have a history, it’s just that their respective histories are trending in opposite directions.
Still, it usually makes for good theater if not always competitive games. (For example, the two previous meetings this season were tied going into the final minutes before what has not become familiar and inevitable happened.)
I guess for NBC, that’s still something.
Lineup News: Strome is alive!
Contrary to most of our expectations given Jack Capuano’s typical (and superstitious? could it really be?) decisions following a win, Capuano is making an unforced change to the lineup: Ryan Strome steps back in from a two-game healthy scratch in place of Alan Quine.
Maybe Capuano knew he had to change defensemen after Adam Pelech’s injury so he said, screw it, superstition’s already ruined. Scott Mayfield will place in Pelech’s place, and the Islanders will probably try to shelter him from the most lethal of the Penguins’ team speed.
The other key lineup decision is starting Thomas Greiss in goal. He’s been their better goalie, again, and he was in net for their two most recent wins, including the 2-1 OT victory over the Calgary Flames.
How to Watch
As noted, this one is televised on NBC Sports.
For a loud, obnoxious and questionably informed radio call, it’s on 660AM - 101.9FM WFAN, 88.7FM WRHU, 103.9FM LI News.
Follow Penguins coverage over at Pensburgh.
FIG Picks
Leave your First Islanders Goal picks over here by game time, which is 8 p.m. EST.