The New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins remember what happened on Feb. 11. They remember the 65 penalties, 346 penalty minutes, 10 ejections, 15 fighting majors and 20 misconducts. But both teams vow those issues are in the past, and Tuesday night's 7 p.m. meeting in New York (televised on MSG Plus) will be more peaceful.
"A game like that probably won't ever happen [again]," Pittsburgh center Jordan Staal said Monday before the Penguins flew to New York. "Obviously it was a little over the top.
"There's still the rivalry. Things can happen. But I can't see anything like that happen again."
Islanders coach Jack Capuano doesn't even consider it a rivalry, calling tonight's meeting "just another game."
The Penguins have accumulated a 6-2-2 record without Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby. Malkin traveled to New York with the team and could make his season debut tonight, but Crosby is not ready to return.
New York is coming off two straight losses, the last a 4-2 defeat against the Florida Panthers. The Islanders entered the third period tied but gave up two unanswered goals during the final frame.
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