Pittsburgh @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 6, 2018 ) NY Islanders 2, Pittsburgh 6

The New York Islanders recorded a home-and-home sweep of the Pittsburgh Penguins earlier this season as part of a 10-2-0 stretch against Metropolitan Division representatives. The Penguins exacted a bit of revenge with a 6-2 victory last week and look to salvage a split of the regular-season series on Monday, when the division rivals meet at Nassau Coliseum for the first time since Jan. 16, 2015.

The Islanders averted a fifth loss in six contests by overcoming an early two-goal deficit in a 3-2 win against Detroit on Saturday. Matt Martin, who scored for a career-high fourth time this season versus the Red Wings, collected a goal and an assist in New York's 6-3 triumph at Pittsburgh on Oct. 30. Phil Kessel set up a goal in that contest as well as a 3-2 shootout loss to the Islanders on Nov. 1 before registering two tallies and two assists in Thursday's romp to give him 13 points (three goals, 10 assists) during his eight-game point streak in the all-time series. Captain Sidney Crosby scored a goal and set up two more on Thursday to boost his point total to a staggering 113 (36 goals, 77 assists) in 65 career encounters with New York before being kept off the scoresheet in the Penguins' 2-1 overtime loss at Ottawa on Saturday.

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

ABOUT THE PENGUINS (12-10-6): Evgeni Malkin has played a significant role in numerous victories throughout his decorated career, but the former Hart Trophy winner also was quick to accept the blame after his part on a too-many-men-on-the-ice penalty that led to the loss in Canada's capital. "I wanted to jump and get a breakaway. I have to wait an extra second. It's my mistake," the 32-year-old Russian told reporters. Malkin aims to atone versus New York, against which he has scored two goals and set up another this season.

ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (14-11-3): New York recalled former first-round draft pick Josh Ho-Sang from Bridgeport of the American Hockey League on Sunday and returned goaltender Christopher Gibson to the Sound Tigers. The 22-year-old Ho-Sang, who leads Bridgeport in both assists (20) and points (22) over 26 games this season, scored two goals and set up 10 others in 22 contests with the Islanders in 2017-18. "He deserves the call-up," Islanders president/general manager Lou Lamoriello told reporters. "What he's done is made a conscientious effort to work at being a complete player, working at both sides of the puck and being more defensive-minded."

OVERTIME

1. Pittsburgh C Jake Guentzel, who had his six-game point streak halted on Saturday, has notched four assists against New York this season.

2. Islanders captain Anders Lee has scored two of his team-best 11 goals versus the Penguins this season while C Mathew Barzal has recorded two of his club-high 19 assists in the series.

3. Pittsburgh D Kris Letang has registered two goals and an assist in two games against New York this season.

PREDICTION: Penguins 4, Islanders 3