Pittsburgh Penguins (6-2-2, 14pts) @ New York Islanders (3-3-0, 6 pts)

Pre-Game Buzz
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Moving on From Last Season?
The Penguins and Islanders are all saying the right things, indicating that they have moved on from last seasons melee and that tonight is a new season with both teams looking for a win.
We’ll find out if that’s the case as the two teams meet for a home and home series starting tonight in Long Island.
Last season the Penguins and Islanders combined for 653 penalty minutes. 346 of those minutes came in the famous February 11th game.
In that clash, the division rivals combined for 65 penalties, 346 penalty minutes, 15 fighting majors, 10 ejections, and 20 misconducts as New York defeated Pittsburgh 9-3.
“In terms of what happened last year, we’re certainly not going into this game with any kind of thought of repaid debts from last year,” head coach Dan Bylsma said on Monday. “It’s about this game and right now for us and where we are at in our 11th game and we have our sights set on different goals and where we want to be in the Atlantic Division.
Malkin likely back tonight

All signs this morning continued to point to Evgeni Malkin returning to the lineup tonight. Malkin centered Steve Sullivan and James Neal in the morning skate.
Buzz on Monday was that Malkin would return in one of the next two games against New York.
However, Head coach Dan Bylsma wasn’t ready to commit to Malkin playing calling him and his lineup a game time decision.
Playing without Michalek
Defenseman Zbynek Michalek is sidelined for a possible six weeks and where the Penguins will be tested without him is on the penalty kill.
The Penguins come into tonight’s game 32-for-33 on the PK, including an exceptional 20-for-20 on the road.
‘Z’ {Michalek} is exceptional at it and excels in {the PK} but we are going to count on some other guys to step up and do that.”
Defenseman Ben Lovejoy will move back into the lineup and be paired with Matt Niskanen tonight.
NHL Draft Headed to Pittsburgh
The NHL will announce this week that Pittsburgh will be awarded the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.