Penguins Game 19, Wins Needed; Lines, Notes

Pittsburgh Penguins Game 19 Preview: Penguins Aiming for Fifth Straight Win

The Penguins will look to extend their winning streak to five games when they host the New York Islanders on Tuesday night. Pittsburgh has been one of the hottest teams in the NHL since the start of November, going 8-2-0 in their last 10 games. The Penguins are now up to third place in the Metropolitan Division, just three points behind the first-place New Jersey Devils. The Islanders, meanwhile, have been struggling lately, going 3-6-1 in their last 10 games. They are currently in seventh place in the Metropolitan Division, just two points ahead of the ninth-place Philadelphia Flyers.

Keys to the Game

The Penguins need to continue to get production from their top line. Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Jake Guentzel have been on fire lately, combining for 27 points in their last 10 games.
The Penguins need to be better on the power play. They are currently ranked 29th in the NHL in power-play percentage, converting just 16.7% of their opportunities.
The Penguins need to stay out of the penalty box. They are currently ranked 26th in the NHL in penalty minutes per game, averaging 10.4 minutes per game.

Lines and Notes

The Penguins will likely ice the same lineup that they used in their 4-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday night.
The Islanders will be without forward Anthony Beauvillier, who is out with an upper-body injury.
The Penguins will be looking to win their fifth straight game and take another step towards a playoff berth.

Prediction

The Penguins are the better team on paper and they are playing at home, so they should be considered the favorites to win this game. The Islanders are a tough team to play against, but the Penguins should have enough firepower to get the job done. Penguins 4, Islanders 2