Sidney Crosby broke Mario Lemieux’s Pittsburgh franchise career record for assists on Michael Bunting’s power-play goal and the Penguins beat the New York Islanders 3-2 on Sunday night.

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A showdown in the Metropolitan Division showcases the Pittsburgh Penguins against the New York Islanders. Welcome back to NHL Predictions here on Last Word on Hockey!

The Pittsburgh Penguins beat the New York Islanders 3-2 at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh on Sunday. The Penguins' Sidney Crosby broke Mario Lemieux's franchise record for assists at 1,034. The Penguins stand at 17-16-5;

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.

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.

It will not be easy to rebuild, but it is better for the Islanders to try to right the ship and fail than to not try at all.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Anthony Duclair also scored, and Mathew Barzal and Alexander Romanov each had two assists for New York.

Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan has seen enough of the New York Islanders to know what they’re about. And he knows, even if they’ve largely struggled this season, the Islanders still present a stiff challenge to the Penguins.

The New York Islanders (14-15-7) dug deep and beat the Pittsburgh Penguins (16-16-5) 6-3 on Saturday Night in UBS Arena. Casey Cizikas and Anders Lee scored two goals each, leading New York past the recently hot Penguins.

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 Florida Panthers (23-13-2) are the two-time defending Prince of Wales Trophy winner and defending Stanley Cup champion.