The Penguins reportedly had some players dealing with bumps and bruises, leading to an emergency recall of Joona Koppanen. It’s needed, Koppanen replaces Emil Bemstrom in the lineup, otherwise Pittsburgh is fairly similar to what’s brought them into the game on a four-game winning streak.
How we're lining up tonight vs. the Islanders u2b07ufe0f pic.twitter.com/Dy6mjMt0jW
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) March 18, 2025
First period
The Islanders start the game out as the better of the two teams, but it’s the Pens who score first. Vladislav Kolyachonok has his head up all the way on a play from the left point and deftly snaps a puck to the front of the net where two Penguins are ready.