Pittsburgh at New York

I think a lot of people thought this series would be over in four games, but the Islanders have acquitted themselves well here. They trail three games to two, but looking at the bigger picture they have allowed 22 goals in five games, or 4.4 per contest, and not many teams survive in the playoffs with those defensive numbers. They have either won a close game or gotten blown out, and their margin for error is razor thin as witnessed by the Pittsburgh wins of 4-0 and 5-0 in this series. The Penguins have thrived after a game where they got after it on the defensive end, as they are now a robust 40-13 in their last 53 contests following a game where they allowed two or less goals. Overall this team is 39-14 in their last 53, and there is no disguising the fact that New York is 51-105-2 in their last 158 games vs. a team that is over .600. Pittsburgh is also 6-2 in the last eight meetings here. This series ends tonight, play on Pittsburgh.