The Penguins went into the holiday break on a 9-3-1 run and returned feeling refreshed after a few days away and ready to keep their momentum rolling. Instead, it came to a halt on Saturday against the Islanders,

The Islanders’ dogged work for the opening 10 minutes of the second period helped make good on Roy’s promise on Saturday night. They scored three goals during that stretch — those goals the result of won battles, races, and every inch of contested ice — to fuel a 6-3 win over the Penguins at USB Arena in Elmont, N.Y.

After a four-day layoff, the Penguins struggled to find a good rhythm. Good moments were followed by bad, and pucks were just out of reach for prime scoring chances.

Patrick Roy made it clear that the fans deserve to see their team at their best on Saturday night against the Penguins following their embarrassing showing against Buffalo.

Bad habits tend to crop up when least expected, and the Pittsburgh Penguins’ recent run of exemplary play and back-slapping defensive performances caved in like New Jersey sections of I-80 Saturday in a 6-3 loss to the New York Islanders.

Casey Cizikas and Anders Lee each scored twice and the New York Islanders beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-3 on Saturday night.

Alex Ovechkin scored an empty-net goal in his return to action as the Washington Capitals upended the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2 on Saturday night. Andrew Mangiapane, Jakob Chychrun, Nic Dowd and Tom Wilson also scored for the Capitals.

The third line tied the game for the Leafs in the middle frame with Bobby McMann hitting double-digits scoring off his own rebound. Similarly to the first period, it didn’t take long for the Capitals to regain the lead.

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.

Pregame analysis and predictions of the Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Islanders NHL game to be played on December 28, 2024 on ESPN.