Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET
Venue: UBS Arena, Elmont, NY
Broadcast: NHL Network (national), SN-PIT / MSGSN (regional), TVAS
This Metropolitan Division showdown is a high-stakes late-season battle for playoff positioning. The Islanders sit in 2nd place in the Metro (6th in East) with a slight points edge, while the Penguins are 3rd in the division (7th in East). Both teams are fighting for home-ice advantage or a top wild-card spot in the East, with the home team holding the edge in recent form and goaltending stability.
Team
Recent Form (Last 5-10 Games)
Penguins (4-4-2 in last 10; 2-3-0 in last 5):
Mar 28: L 3-6 vs DAL
Mar 27: W 4-3 (SO) @ OTT
Mar 25: L 2-6 vs COL
Mar 22: L 1-5 vs CAR
Recent prior: Inconsistent scoring and defensive lapses in losses, but resilient in shootout wins. Pittsburgh has struggled to string together wins amid injuries.
Islanders (6-4-0 in last 10; 4-1-0 in last 5):
Recent: W2 streak (including strong defensive efforts).
Averaging solid goaltending and timely scoring; 2-1 win vs DAL highlighted their home resilience.
New York has been the hotter team overall and performs well at UBS Arena in tight games.
Injury Report
Pittsburgh Penguins:
Sidney Crosby (C) – Day-to-Day (lower body; missed recent games, possible return)
Evgeni Malkin (C) – Day-to-Day (upper body; missed multiple games)
Blake Lizotte (C) – OUT (upper body; re-evaluation in ~4 weeks)
Additional: Kevin Hayes (upper body), Anthony Mantha (lower body day-to-day), and depth pieces sidelined. Penguins are thin up front.
New York Islanders:
Tony DeAngelo (D) – OUT (lower body; 1-2 weeks)
Alexander Romanov (D) – OUT (shoulder; IR, possible postseason return)
Kyle Palmieri (C) – OUT (knee; season)
Pierre Engvall (LW) – OUT (ankle; season)
Semyon Varlamov (G) – OUT (knee; season)
Islanders missing key blueline depth and a backup goalie; Ilya Sorokin is carrying the load.
cbssports.com +2
Injuries heavily impact Pittsburgh’s star power and New York’s depth—monitor Crosby/Malkin status closely as it could swing lines 1-2 points.
Key Player Matchups to Watch
Sidney Crosby / Evgeni Malkin (if active) vs. Islanders defense (Pulock, Dobson, etc.): Pittsburgh’s veteran centers vs. New York’s structured blueline and Sorokin.
Bo Horvat / Mathew Barzal vs. Penguins forward group: Islanders’ top-line scoring threats vs. Pittsburgh’s depleted checking lines.
Goaltending: Penguins (likely Stuart Skinner or backup) vs. Ilya Sorokin (elite .914 SV% in recent stretch). Sorokin has been the difference-maker at home.
Special Teams: Penguins PP (24.4%) vs. Islanders PK (81.5%); physical Metro battles often decided by power-play efficiency and rebound control.
Series History (2025-26 Season)
2025-26: 1-1 (Oct 9: PIT 4-3 W in Pittsburgh; Feb 3: NYI 5-4 OT W in New York).
All-time: Penguins hold historical edge (~27-16-10 since 2013-14), but recent matchups have been high-scoring and decided by one goal.
The Islanders took the most recent meeting in OT; home ice has favored the host in both 2025-26 contests.
Betting Trends
Islanders 6-4 SU in last 10 and strong at home; Penguins 4-4-2 and vulnerable on the road without stars.
Totals have gone Under in several recent Metro divisional games; both teams average ~2.8-3.1 GAA.
Islanders cover as home favorites vs. injury-hit opponents; Penguins struggle ATS when top centers are questionable.
Game Odds
Pittsburgh Penguins 6.5
New York Islanders – 118
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Sunday, March 29, 2026
