Penguins Host Islanders in Home Opener with Schaefer Set to Debut
PITTSBURGH – the Pittsburgh Penguins will raise the curtain on their home schedule tonight,hosting the New York Islanders at PPG Paints Arena. A key storyline centers on Penguins prospect Matthew Schaefer, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, who is slated to make his NHL debut. The game features a clash between two Metropolitan Division rivals eager to establish early momentum in the season.
Tonight’s contest carries significance for both teams as they navigate early-season roster adjustments and seek to build upon recent performances. The Penguins are coming off a 3-0 victory against the New York Rangers, while the Islanders aim to secure their first win of the season.The game’s outcome will offer a glimpse into each team’s potential and set the tone for their respective campaigns.
Projected Lineups:
Pittsburgh Penguins:
* Ville Koivunen — Sidney Crosby — Rickard Rakell
* Anthony Mantha — Evgeni Malkin — Justin Brazeau
* Tommy Novak — Ben Kindel – Filip hallander
* Connor Dewar — Blake Lizotte — noel Acciari
* Parker Wotherspoon — Erik Karlsson
* Ryan Shea — Kris Letang
* Caleb jones – Harrison Brunicke
* Tristan Jarry (starting goalie)
* Arturs Silovs
New York Islanders:
* Anders Lee — Mathew barzal – Kyle Palmieri
* Jonathan Drouin — Bo Horvat — Emil Heineman
* Maxim Shabanov — Jean-Gabriel Pageau — Simon Holmstrom
* Anthony Duclair — Casey Cizikas — Maxim Tsyplakov
* Alexander Romanov — Tony DeAngelo
* Adam Pelech — Ryan Pulock
* Matthew Schaefer — Scott Mayfield
* Ilya Sorokin (starting goalie)
* David Rittich
Scratches & Injuries:
Penguins: Philip Tomasino, Mathew Dumba, Connor Clifton (scratched); Bryan Rust (lower body), Kevin Hayes (upper body), Rutger McGroarty (upper body) (injured).
Islanders: Marc Gatcomb, Kyle MacLean, Adam Boqvist (scratched); semyon Varlamov (lower body), Ethan Bear (upper body) (injured).
Status Report:
Penguins coach confirmed Tristan Jarry will start in net for the home opener, following Arturs Silovs’ 25-save shutout performance against the Rangers.Filip Hallander will make his season debut on the third line, taking the place of Philip Tomasino. Bryan Rust, recovering from a lower-body injury, participated fully in Wednesday’s practice but remains unavailable.
