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Metro Division Comparison Part 3: Islanders/Penguins

August 1, 2019, 3:08 PM ET [9 Comments]
Ben Shelley
New York Islanders Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
This article will be part three of a series of posts looking at how the New York Islanders stack up against each Metropolitan Division team next season (done in no particular order). Today’s look: how the Islanders measure against the Pittsburgh Penguins.


OFFENSE

Despite moving Phil Kessel, the Pittsburgh Penguins remain a fairly old team, led by two centers over the age of 30. However those centers– Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin– remain two of the NHL’s most dynamic forwards and are complemented by a deep supporting cast. Jake Guentzel is also coming off a 40-goal, 76-point season, while the recently added Alex Galchenyuk will be good for 20 goals and 45-50 points. Patric Hornqvist, though aging, is still effective for about 40-45 points and Nick Bjustad, Bryan Rust, Dominik Simon, Jared McCann and Brandon Tanev make for a very deep team up front. The Penguins have three players who scored at least 10 points more than Mathew Barzal, the Islanders’ leading scorer, and even without Phil Kessel, the Penguins are still a ways ahead of New York in their offensive capabilities.



EDGE- PITTSBURGH


DEFENSE

Healthy, the Penguins have a decent defense group. Kris Letang is one of the league’s top offensive defensemen but has only hit the 70-game mark twice in the last eight years. Justin Schultz is also great for producing from the point but has had some poor luck with injuries as well, hitting the 70-game mark just once in the last four seasons. That leaves just Brian Dumoulin, Jack Johnson and Erik Gudbranson and the young Marcus Pettersson. Overall, it’s a step down from the Islanders’ group of Ryan Pulock, Devon Toews, Nick Leddy and others.

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GOALTENDING

Despite a rough patch, Matt Murray seems to have regained form as the young star that began his career with back-to-back Stanley Cups. Murray held a .930 save percentage from Dec. 15 onwards last season, finishing the year with a .919 save percentage. Coming off a 36-game season, Casey DeSmith will also act as a solid backup for the Penguins. With Murray likely to carry his play into next season, the Penguins have the edge in the goaltending category.

EDGE- PITTSBURGH



Despite the sweep that the Penguins faced at the hands of the Islanders in April, Pittsburgh is the better team on paper. Despite an injury-prone defense core, Matt Murray is a key for the Penguins heading into next season and Pittsburgh's forward group will continue to produce.


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