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Nielsen: Penguins have lots of guys ‘that can’t skate with us’

Frans Nielsen

Frans Nielsen #51 of the New York Islanders handles the puck against the Buffalo Sabres during their game at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on February 9, 2013 in Uniondale, New York. (February 8, 2013 - Source: Al Bello/Getty Images North America)

The New York Islanders don’t want to be remembered as the team that held their own against the Pittsburgh Penguins, they want to be the squad that eliminates them.

Pittsburgh is up 2-1 series lead heading into tonight’s contest (7:00 p.m. ET, NBCSN), but Islanders forward Frans Nielsen feels his team has one key advantage that can push them over the top.

“We’ve felt they have a lot of guys on their team that can’t skate with us,” Nielsen said, according to ESPN.

He added, “I think when we’re moving our feet, they’ve got guys up front, on the [defense] that we can see are struggling a little bit. We’ve gotta skate with ‘em. If we stop skating, we don’t have a chance.”

Penguins captain Sidney Crosby noted that the Islanders have “probably carried the play a little bit more.” He also thinks that his team has hurt themselves by allowing too many turnovers.

The Islanders certainly came out strong in Game 3 on Sunday, but the Penguins were superb in power-play situations. Pittsburgh’s edge in special teams was the difference in that match, but if the Islanders play a more disciplined game tonight, then perhaps they can even this series.