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Pens, Isles set for battle

UNIONDALE, N.Y. — If the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Islanders fought things out on the silver screen instead of a sheet of ice, the sequel would have a roman numeral tacked onto the title a la “Rocky.”

It’s been two months since the Atlantic Division rivals staged one of the most penalty- and fight-filled games they or the NHL has ever seen. Much has changed since that Friday night in February when the Islanders had revenge on their minds and took care of getting it in all kinds of ways.

Whether the bad blood still exists when the Penguins return to Long Island on Friday night remains to be seen.

“Sometimes games like this, there is all the hype and it’s just another game,” Islanders tough guy Micheal Haley said Thursday. “They’re in the playoffs, so they’ll be worried about that. It’s tough to say what could happen. I am sure there will still be emotions but I don’t know if it will be like last time.”

The last game featured 65 penalties, 346 penalty minutes, 10 ejections, 15 fighting majors and 20 misconducts in the Islanders’ 9-3 victory that was never competitive. Records were set for both teams for most combined penalty minutes, and there were few players around to finish the game.

Both sides tried to downplay what will happen once they are back on the ice together, and the teams are going in different directions. New York has only two games remaining in a disappointing season, and Pittsburgh is playing out the string with only a potentially better postseason seeding on the line in the final weekend.

“We are in the playoffs and we are trying to get ready for playoffs. Their season is over,” Penguins forward Pascal Dupuis said. “It’s a different atmosphere in both locker rooms. I don’t expect too much to happen.”That seemed to be a common theme.

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