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.

The Islanders at least ensured that they will keep on hanging around in this race with a 6-3 win over the Penguins in the home leg of the back-to-back.

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.

Brock Nelson and Anders Lee are not the most dangerous duo the Pittsburgh Penguins have had to face when playing the New York Islanders. There was, after all, a time when New York coach Al Arbour could send two future Hockey Hall of Famers — center Bryan Trottier and right winger Mike Bossy — over the boards against them.

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 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.

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.

At this stage of his career, Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has firmly established himself as one of the all-time greats, and each record he chases eclipses another all-time great. Such was the case Saturday against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena.

Islanders shake off dismal showing against Sabres for much-needed win, face Penguins again on Sunday in Pittsburgh.

Kirill Lyapunov (2025 draft eligible) and Alexander Kim (2025 draft eligible) scored for Kazakhstan (0-0-0-2). Vladimir Nikitin (Ottawa Senators) made 17 saves on 26 shots. He was replaced during the first period by Jokhar Dudarkiyev (2025 draft eligible), who made five saves on 10 shots before Nikitin returned during the second.