So Columbus had two points and then they blew one and then something happened with Boston and something else with Detroit.

I got to tell you, I am way, way, way more in favor of the scenario I'm about to cover

tonight. Good morning to you. Good Monday morning. From New York, I'm Dan Kovachievich of D.K. Pittsburgh

Sports, and this is Daily Shot of Penguins. It comes your way bright and early every weekday.

If you're into football and or baseball, I also offer Daily Shot of Penguins. It comes your way bright and early every weekday. If you're into football and or baseball, I also offer daily shots of Steelers and Pirates.

I hope you'll check those out as well.

Penguins versus Islanders here tonight at UBS Arena.

That's a 708 p.m. faceoff, and it promises to be the first real glimpse we've seen of what's tantamount to Stanley Cup playoff hockey from the Pittsburgh perspective in a while.

And you know what?

As much as the islanders have scarred Pittsburgh hockey fans for, oh,

probably about half a century now, you go back to 1975 or 1982 or 1993 or a whole bunch of

other examples, even this, even this opponent feels fitting. Why? Well, look at the standings, but also look at the schedule.

The Penguins do have other games against other teams in this mix, but this is the last one

against either of the two in the metro that are right there with them, those of course being

the Islanders and the Blue Jackets.

This is it.

This is it.

This is the last four-point swing within the division.

And as I've been saying for weeks now, the safest, smartest way to get into the playoffs is to be one of those top three teams in the

metro. Now can four metro teams make it? Sure, of course. But again, this is stuff that's out of your

control. Tonight, for better or worse, is laid out right in front of you on the same sheet of ice. Now there are questions, of course,

notably whether or not Sidney Crosby and or Yvgeny Malkin will be available to play. Both of them

...