New York @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 7, 2019 ) Pittsburgh 4, NY Islanders 3

The New York Islanders have run roughshod through their schedule over the last month, with one contest providing the lone blemish on their 14-game point streak (13-0-1). The Islanders aim to avenge an overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins and match a franchise-best point streak on Tuesday when they visit the Steel City for the opener of a home-and-home series.

New York nearly fell in regulation for the first time since Oct. 11 before overcoming a three-goal deficit in the third period of Saturday's 4-3 shootout victory versus Philadelphia. Mathew Barzal boosted his team-leading totals in goals (nine) and points (17) after tallying in the third to extend his point streak to four games (three goals, three assists). While Barzal had an assist in the Islanders' 4-3 overtime loss to Pittsburgh on Nov. 7, Bryan Rust completed a two-goal performance by scoring 3:25 into the extra session to set the Penguins off on their current 3-1-1 march. The 27-year-old Rust tallied again in the following game and collected a goal and two assists as Pittsburgh breezed to a 6-1 drubbing of Toronto on Saturday.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG-Plus (New York), AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh

ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (14-3-1): Anthony Beauvillier recorded his second straight two-goal performance on Saturday and eighth multi-goal effort of his career to boost his point total to 12 (six goals, six assists) in 18 games. "He's hungry and it's been a lot of fun playing on his line," Derick Brassard said of the 22-year-old Beauvillier. "He's the engine on our line, he's the youngest one and we expect him to have the most energy every night." Brassard has recorded 12 points since being shuffled to the wing alongside Brock Nelson and Beauvillier.

ABOUT THE PENGUINS (11-7-2): Dominik Kahun struggled to get his footing in his first season with Pittsburgh, going goalless in his first 11 appearances before righting the ship following a healthy scratch to record five goals in his last eight games. "The start was a little tough for me to get used to all the things. ... Now I've found my game and I feel positive," said the 24-year-old, who posted his second three-point performance in eight games with two goals and an assist against the Maple Leafs. Evgeni Malkin likely is feeling pretty positive with his play, as the former Hart Trophy recipient has eight points (two goals, six assists) in seven contests since returning from an 11-game absence with a lower-body injury.

OVERTIME

1. Pittsburgh C Jared McCann has seven points in his last six games, including three (one goal, two assists) in the previous encounter with New York.

2. The Islanders have recorded 15-game point streaks in 1978-79, 1980-81 and 1981-82.

3. The Penguins have thwarted all 20 short-handed situations over the past nine games.

PREDICTION: Penguins 3, Islanders 2