If the New York Islanders are looking for a way to extend their point streak to nine games, they might want to concentrate on shutting down the Penguins' top line when the teams meet Thursday at Pittsburgh.
Precedent this season suggests that if the Islanders, 5-0-3 during their streak, can keep Pittsburgh's Jake Guentzel, Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust off the scoresheet, they will increase their chances at getting two points.
Those three members of the Penguins' top line are Pittsburgh's top three scorers. They were held without any points Tuesday in a 3-1 loss against Washington that left the Penguins 2-3 in their past five games, 3-4-1 in their past eight.