Islanders vs. Penguins: Betting odds, projected lines, no Sidney Crosby

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Projected Lines

New York Islanders

Lee-Barzal-Eberle
Beauvillier-Nelson-Brassard
Bailey-Cizikas-Clutterbuck
Dal Colle-Koivula-Komarov

Leddy-Boychuk
Pelech-Pulock
Toews-Mayfield

Varlamov (Greiss)

Scratches: Johnston, Dobson

There aren’t too many surprises here. The Islanders forward lines haven’t moved much over the last few games. And why would they? They aren’t losing, so why tinker too much?

Getting his second start in the NHL is a former fourth-round pick from the 2016 draft Otto Koivula. The 6’4″ 219lbs winger played well in his first game for the Islanders versus the Philadelphia Flyers. Now he’ll get a chance to build on that against the Penguins.

On defense, Noah Dobson sits again. Based on how the Leddy-Boychuk pair played against the Flyers it’s surprising to me that Trotz didn’t give Dobson his seventh start in the NHL.

The goalie rotation is unbroken with Semyon Varlamov getting the start after Greiss played against the Flyers. Hopefully, Varlamov will have a better night out than in his last two starts where he let in four goals apiece and averaged a 0.875SV%.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Guentzel-Malkin-Rust
Kahun-McCann-Tanev
Galchenyuk-Blandisi-Simon
Aston-Reese-Bueger-Lafferty

Dumoulin-Marino
Pettersson-Schultz
Johnson-Riikola

Murray (Jarry)

Scratches: Ruhwedel

The Penguins are missing a number of players. Not only is Sidney Crosby out of the lineup, but so are Patric Hornqvist, defenseman Kris Letang, and Nick Bjugstad.

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This is a big game for the Islanders, not only are they looking to avenge their only loss since October 8, but they’re also looking to equalize their longest point streak ever. The last one coming in 1982 when they won 15 games straight. Tonight’s game is a big game.