Islanders v. Penguins: Revenge is Best Served Cold
The New York Islanders take on the Pittsburgh Penguins for the first time in 2016-17. The personnel in Pittsburgh is pretty much the same as last year’s , but the Isles have made some big names changes. Can we expect that same as the last time they met?
Revenge is a dish served best cold. Like ice cold. Maybe not Barclays Center ice cold, but ice from your fridge cold. (That’s a nice little topical dig). Tonight the New York Islanders take on the Pittsburgh Penguins for the first time since the 2015-16 regular season.
In the last meeting between the two, the Penguins laid a 5-0 existential crisis on the Islanders. The loss was so heavy handed that media shy captain John Tavares questioned his teammates commitment to the cause.
“We went out there and got embarrassed because we didn’t play hard enough. This time of year, that is unacceptable. Everyone has to look themselves in the mirror and ask themselves how much they want it.”
The “It” Tavares refers to is the playoffs. At that point in the 2015-16 season, the New York Islanders had yet to guarantee themselves a spot in the postseason, and Philadelphia was hot on their heels.
The Islanders would eventually move on from the loss. First by clinching a playoff spot a few days before the end of the season. Then, by winning their first-round matchup against the Florida Panthers.
But five months later, here we are. The first meeting between the two. And who knows what we’ll get.
The Islanders are vey much meddling about at a.500 pace, and new boy Andrew Ladd has been formally and publicly demoted to fourth line duties. The team should be better than they’ve shown recently, I had them pegged for a win last night against Montréal. But something just isn’t clicking for the Isles.
The Penguins are already pretty banged up. They seemingly got the injury bug early, with injuries to players like Kris Letang and Matt Murray. But Sid the Kid is in the lineup. Back from his third concussion-related injury. But they keep winning. Implying that the Mike Sullivan novelty might not have been so novel after all.
Where you can catch the game:
Venue: PGG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
TV: MSG+
Radio: 660AM WFAN, 88.7FM WRHU, 103.9FM LI News
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