Penguins vs. Islanders Scouting Report

Monday, 10.24.2011 / 9:00 PM / Features

By Michelle Crechiolo

Pittsburgh Penguins
Overall: 6-2-2-14
Home: 3-1-1-7
Road: 3-1-1-7

WHEN: Oct. 24, 2011 - 7:00 pm | WHERE: Nassau Coliseum
WATCH: ROOT SPORTS | LISTEN: Penguins 24/7 Radio, 105.9 FM

New York Islanders
Overall: 3-3-0-6
Home: 3-1-0-6
Road: 0-2-0-0

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Islanders

SCOUTING REPORT

GAME NOTES

PLAYER PROFILES

John Tavares
	C - #91 6 Goals 4 Assists 10 Points
• Inked a six-year contract extension on Sept. 15, just days before his 21st birthday (Sept. 20). • Third-year center has led the Islanders in scoring each of his two years in the league, notching 24 goals his rookie season and 29 tallies in 2010-11 (including three overtime goals, which tied for first in the league). • The 6-foot, 206-pound forward was the first-overall pick of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft after a prolific junior career, where he scored 215 goals and 433 points in 247 games in four Ontario Hockey League seasons.

Michael Grabner
	RW - #40 2 Goals 0 Assists 2 Points
• Led all league rookies with 34 goals in 2010-11, his first full NHL season – and scored 40 of his 52 points in the second half of the year. • The speedy winger (who won the Bridgestone Fastest Skater competition at the 2011 NHL All-Star Weekend) also finished second in the league with six shorthanded goals. • Vancouver’s first-round pick (14th overall) was claimed off waivers by the Islanders on Oct. 3, 2010 – and signed a five-year contract extension on May 13, 2011.

Mark Streit
	D - #2 1 Goal 5 Assists 6 Points
• The 33-year-old Swiss defenseman was named the 13th captain in Islanders history on Sept. 21. • Missed the entire 2010-11 campaign after suffering a season-ending shoulder injury during training camp last September. • Has posted double digits in goals each of his past four seasons, including a career-high 16 in 2008-09 – his first with the Islanders – and notched a personal-best 62 points the campaign before that with Montreal.

The Penguins and their Atlantic Division rival, the New York Islanders, will be facing off in a home-and-home series this week starting with a Tuesday evening match on Long Island and finishing with a Thursday night match back in Pittsburgh.

The Islanders have a fully healthy squad to start the 2011-12 campaign after finishing last season with almost 600 man-games lost to injury – the highest total in the league. They got their season off to a strong start – winning three in a row after dropping their season opener – but have lost two straight on the road entering Tuesday’s contest.

Center John Tavares, whose star continues to rise as he enters his third year in the league, headlines a promising young group of forwards. Tavares – who turned 21 days after signing a six-year contract extension in September – has gotten off to a blazing start for his team, scoring six goals and 10 points in the Islanders’ last four games, including a hat trick on Oct. 15 versus the New York Rangers.

He’s been centering a line with left wing Matt Moulson and right wing PA Parenteau, who have been shouldering their share of the offensive burden – much like they did last year. Moulson, who is coming off back-to-back 30-goal seasons, has a pair of tallies and assists while Parenteau has a team-high seven helpers. Meanwhile, sophomore speedster Michael Grabner is looking to build off a 34-goal rookie season, Kyle Okposo is looking to bounce back from an injury-shortened 2010-11 campaign and Frans Nielsen continues to play one of the best (and underrated) two-way games in the league.

Newly-appointed captain Mark Streit is back to lead the Islanders’ back end. The 33-year-old Swiss defenseman didn’t even make it to the preseason after suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in training camp last September. Streit logs about 25 minutes a night (much of that coming on the power play) and is an offensive threat from the blue line, notching double-digits in goals and 49-plus points each of his last four seasons.

Six different goalies saw game action for the Islanders last season – a new franchise record – and there’s still no clear-cut starter this year. While Al Montoya played the first four games, Evgeni Nabokov got the nod for the last two while Rick DiPietro is close to returning to game action after suffering a concussion during practice on Oct. 12. Head coach Jack Capuano hasn’t tipped his hand as to who will start Tuesday.

Tonight is the first of two sets of home-and-home series the Penguins and Islanders will play this season. They'll square off again March 27 & 29.

Until this Sunday and Monday, the Penguins hadn't had more than one day of rest between any of their first 10 games this season.

The Penguins are 15-2-2 in their last 19 games against the Islanders, and 5-2-2 in Long Island over the last 3 seasons.

Tonight is Dan Bylsma's 200th career NHL game as a head coach. His first game also came against the Islanders on Long Island Feb. 16, 2009.

Richard Park played 4 seasons with the Islanders (2006-10). Arron Asham played 4 years with New York (2002-07). Bylsma was an assistant coach with the Islanders (2005-06).

Mark Eaton played 4 seasons with the Penguins (2006-10), winning a Stanley Cup in 2009. Matt Moulson was Pittsburgh's 9th-round pick in 2003 Draft. Islanders GM Garth Snow played 1 season with Pittsburgh (2000-01).

James Neal is tied with Toronto's Phil Kessel for the NHL goal-scoring lead with eight tallies. Neal can tie a career-high goal scoring streak (4 games) with a score against the Islanders.

Defenseman Zbynek Michalek suffered a broken finger while blocking a shot against New Jersey Oct. 22. He is expected to miss 4-6 weeks.

INJURY REPORT

2010-11 STAT CHART

F Sidney Crosby, concussion
F Tyler Kennedy, concussion
F Evgeni Malkin, lower-body
D Zbynek Michalek, broken finger
D Brian Strait, hyper-extended elbow


G	Neal (8)	Tavares (6)
A	Letang (7)	Parenteau (7)
PTS	Neal (9)	Tavares (10)
PIM	Engelland (11)	Hamonic (11)
+/-	Engelland (3)	Parenteau/Moulson (2)
PP	Neal/Staal (2)	Tavares (3)
SH	Three tied with (1)	None
W/L	Fleury (5-2-0)	Montoya (2-2-0)
GAA	Fleury (2.13)	Montoya (2.02)
SVP	Fleury (.926)	Montoya (.930)

G Rick DiPietro (concussion)
D Milan Jurcina (groin)
RW Nino Niederreiter (groin)