Snapshots from the New York Islanders' 6-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. Photos by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images, Bruce Bennett/Getty Images and Dennis DaSilva/New York Islanders.

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The Pittsburgh Penguins (16-15-5) scored a fourth-line goal later in the second period and earned a fortuitous goal in the final minutes of the second period to close a formerly 4-1 New York Islanders (13-15-7) lead to 4-3.

NEW YORK — Casey Cizikas and Anders Lee each scored twice and the New York Islanders beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-3 on Saturday night. Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Anthony Duclair also scored, and Mathew Barzal and Alexander Romanov each had two assists for New York, which had lost three of four. Ilya Sorokin finished with 22 saves.

On Saturday, the Pittsburgh Penguins play the New York Islanders on night one of their weekend home-and-home matchup. Let's discuss some hockey trivia.

The New York Islanders (13-15-7) return from their holiday hiatus against the surging Pittsburgh Penguins (16-15-5). For the Islanders, it kicks off a pair of back-to-back sets they have, starting with these Penguins.

NHL insider Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic recently stated that New York Islanders All-Star, Brock Nelson, “intends to test free agency on July 1st, [2025].

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SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Thunderbirds (13-13-2-1) could not escape a furious push by the Bridgeport Islanders (7-19-2-2) in a high-flying 7-5 contest on Saturday night inside the MassMutual Center.

The Islanders come out firing in the second period with goals from Anthony Duclair, Anders Lee and Casey Cizikas giving them a 4-1 lead over the Penguins.

The Great Eight is within striking distance of Wayne Gretzky's all-time NHL goals record of 894, which Gretzky reached on March 29, 1999, against the New York Islanders. Ovechkin began this season with 853 career goals.