After seeing their six-game winning streak snapped by the Devils in a 4-2 loss Saturday at the Prudential Center, the Islanders will look to start a new run tonight when they host the Penguins.
Tonight will mark the first meeting between the teams since Chris Simon returned to the Islander lineup.
Simon was suspended for 30 games by the NHL after stomping on the leg of Pittsburgh winger Jarkko Ruutu on Dec. 15. Simon, the 36-year-old winger, came back last Thursday against Tampa Bay, and has two penalty minutes in his two games back.
But the other story involving the Islanders, as well as the rest of the NHL, is today’s 3 p.m. trade deadline.
While the Isles’ recent streak has moved them back within striking distance of a playoff berth, they are considering moving Miroslav Satan, who will be a free agent at season’s end.
However Satan, who has 14 goals and 21 assists this season, has a no-trade clause, making it unclear whether he would allow a potential deal to go through.
It’s not surprising that the Islanders’ recent improvement began with better play from goalie Rick DiPietro. From Jan. 19 through Feb. 9, DiPietro lost eight consecutive starts, and allowed at least three goals in each appearance.
But during the team’s six-game winning streak, DiPietro (who started all six games) had four starts with two goals or fewer, including a shutout against the Lightning last Thursday.
While the Penguins have been without superstar Sidney Crosby, who suffered a high-ankle sprain against Tampa Bay, since Jan. 18, Pittsburgh will be getting goalie Marc-Andre Fleury back from the same injury tonight.
Fleury has been out since Dec. 6, and was recalled to the Penguins yesterday after a two-week stint at Scranton/Wilkes Barre, Pittsburgh’s AHL affiliate.
Penguin coach Michael Therrien said yesterday he wasn’t sure when Fleury would start, because he has yet to practice with the team. In the meantime, the crease will be manned by Ty Conklin (16-4-5 as a starter) and Danny Sabourin (10-9-1).
Fleury is 9-8-1 with a 2.90 goals against average this season, after tying for third in the NHL with 40 victories a year ago.
tbontemps@nypost.com