Islanders kick off playoff series against the Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins (44-26-12, third in the Metropolitan Division during the regular season) vs. New York Islanders (48-27-7, second in the Metropolitan Division during the regular season)
Brooklyn; Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. EDT
EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: New York hosts series opener
BOTTOM LINE: The New York Islanders host the Pittsburgh Penguins in game one of the Eastern Conference first round.
The Islanders are 24-13-4 at home. New York is last in the Eastern Conference shooting 28.8 shots per game.
The Penguins are 26-15-11 in Eastern Conference play. Pittsburgh has scored 271 goals and is sixth in the league averaging 3.3 goals per game. Jake Guentzel leads the team with 40. The teams meet Wednesday for the fifth time this season. New York and Pittsburgh tied the regular season series 2-2.
TOP PERFORMERS: Anders Lee leads the Islanders with 28 goals and has totaled 51 points. Jordan Eberle has five goals and one assist over the last 10 games for New York.
Sidney Crosby leads the Penguins with 65 total assists and has recorded 100 points. Guentzel has four goals and four assists over the last 10 games for Pittsburgh.
LAST 10 GAMES: Penguins: 5-2-3, averaging 2.4 goals, 4.4 assists, 2.7 penalties and 6.4 penalty minutes while giving up 2.1 goals per game with a .935 save percentage.
Islanders: 6-4-0, averaging 2.1 goals, four assists, 2.4 penalties and 6.2 penalty minutes while giving up 2.2 goals per game with a .933 save percentage.
Islanders Injuries: Andrew Ladd: out for season (torn acl).
Penguins Injuries: Zachary Aston-Reese: out (lower body), Chad Ruhwedel: out (upper body), Brian Dumoulin: day to day (lower body).
