New York @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 12, 2019 ) Pittsburgh 1, NY Islanders 3

The New York Islanders are in a position where they have not been in 36 years, which for historical references was the season they won their fourth consecutive Stanley Cup. The Islanders head into Sunday afternoon's Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series at the Pittsburgh Penguins in possession of a 2-0 lead for the first time since 1983.

New York, which won the series opener in overtime and scored twice in the third period Friday for a 3-1 victory, is not fazed by the prospect of going into PPG Paints Arena after posting 24 wins both at home and on the road this season. “I think we’re actually a lot calmer than when we’re at home," coach Barry Trotz told reporters Saturday. "We were a real good road team because of the fact that we weren’t trying to put on a show. We were just doing our thing, and we’ve had some of our best games all year on the road.” Pittsburgh, which won back-to-back titles in 2016 and 2017 and lost to eventual champion Washington last season, isn't overreacting to being in a 2-0 hole. “If they can win two in a row, we can do the same,” defenseman Kris Letang told the media Saturday. “I don’t think there is any doubt in our mind that we are going to lose all four. We are confident in our group. We are coming into our building and going to try to set the tone our way.”

TV: Noon ET, NBC, CBC, TVAS, Sportsnet

ABOUT THE ISLANDERS: Jordan Eberle is a proven goal scorer, netting a career-high 34 tallies in 2011-12 and coming up one goal shy this season of a sixth consecutive 20-goal campaign. That has not translated to postseason success for Eberle, who failed to tally in all 13 playoff games with Edmonton before netting the opening tally in Game 1 and notching the game-winner Friday. Eberle, who is scheduled to be a free agent after the season, also collected an assist in each of the first two wins to continue a late surge in which he scored five times over the past seven games.

ABOUT THE PENGUINS: Pittsburgh's top line, anchored by superstar captain Sidney Crosby, has yet to produce a point in the series so coach Mike Sullivan elevated Dominik Simon to the No. 1 unit and dropped Bryan Rust to the third line. In addition, Jared McCann, who has 11 goals and 17 points in 32 games since he was acquired from Florida, is expected to return to the lineup after missing Game 2 because of an upper-body injury. “It’s definitely frustrating,” McCann said. “I wanted to be out there to help my team. To not be able to do that really (stunk). I’m looking to play tomorrow.”

OVERTIME

1. F Josh Bailey also has scored in each of the first two games for the Islanders, who are 5-8 in the postseason at Pittsburgh

2. Crosby has not been held off the scoresheet in three straight games since Dec. 8-12.

3. Eberle has been on the ice for six of New York's seven goals in the series.

PREDICTION: Penguins 3, Islanders 2