Islanders Split Home-and-Home Series with Penguins, Struggle to Build Momentum

New York's playoff hopes remain uncertain after a 6-3 win Saturday and a 3-2 loss Sunday, highlighting inconsistencies in their performance.

The Islanders secured a 6-3 victory over the Penguins on Saturday, fueled by two-goal performances from Casey Cizikas and Anders Lee.
Sunday's rematch saw the Penguins rebound with a 3-2 win, as the Islanders failed to capitalize on opportunities and struggled with consistency.
New York's penalty kill remains a concern, conceding 15 power-play goals in their last 14 games, including two on Sunday.
Backup goalie Marcus Hogberg made his first NHL start in nearly four years on Sunday, delivering a strong 38-save performance despite the loss.
The Islanders, now 14-16-7, remain on the fringes of the playoff race but need to string together wins to climb in the standings.