EAST MEADOW, N.Y. (AP) — The Pittsburgh Penguins have the big-name players. The New York Islanders rely on their system for success.
Perennial All-Stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin lead the high-scoring Penguins against Anders Lee, Mathew Barzal and the defensive-minded Islanders in the first round of the playoffs in the teams’ first postseason meeting since 2013.
“They’ve had great pedigree in the past, they have it now,” Islanders coach Barry Trotz said. “It’s going to be exciting to go against the top players. …They’re a good hockey team, they’re deep and they’ve won.”
Pittsburgh won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and ’17, before Trotz led Washington past the Penguins en route to the franchise’s first championship last year.