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Snap Shots: Islanders @ Penguins — 11/22/13

By Rich Dias-Rodrigues
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Nov 22, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center

Sidney Crosby

(87) reaches for the puck against New York Islanders defenseman

Matt Donovan

(46) during the first period at the CONSOL Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Welcome to Snap Shots, our condensed post-game recap of the New York Islanders latest NHL matchup

New York Islanders (8-11-3, 19pts) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (14-8-0, 28pts)

CONSOL Energy Center

7:05pm EST     

Islanders (3) – Penguins (4)

Starting Lineup

26 Vanek – 91 Tavares – 21 Okposo
13 Grabner – 51 Nielsen – 12 Bailey
96 Bouchard – 16 Regin – 15 Clutterbuck
17 Martin – 53 Cizikas – 13 McDonald

47 MacDonald – 3 Hamonic
46 Donovan — 7 Carkner
4 Martinek – 14 Hickey

60 Poulin (3-6-0)
45 Nilsson

*Noticeable healthy scratch: Brock Nelson

Game Summary

  • Fast-paced, penalty-riddled period as six different players–4 for NYI, 2 for PIT–hampered 5-on-5 play for most of the 20:00. And although the Isles would start strong with keen scoring attempts and strong skating bursts, the Penguins would capitalize on two PP opportunities, both by Chris Kunitz. The scoreboard overshadows the efforts put forth by John Tavares‘s line, as Thomas Vanek is passing well, and doing his part in creating scoring chances. Andrew MacDonald left the ice late in period due to injury and did not return by the final horn. Chris Kunitz 3rd goal was waved off as Evgeni Malkin was called for High-Sticking Matt Carkner as the Penguins were setting up for what would’ve been a rather quick and devastating hat-trick.  But a Pierre-Marc Bouchard Hooking penalty at 19:20 quickly negated their 2nd PP. Isles and Pens will start the 2nd period 4-on-4. SOG 13-13
  • Second period begins with some more bad news for the injury-taxed Islanders, as Andrew MacDonald leaves game with a bothered hand (hopefully not the same one injured during the postseason.)  But overall, this set of 20:00 showcased an aggressive Isles’s forecheck and an equally frustrated Penguins squad, as Thomas Vanek scores his early in the period to cut the deficit by one. Evgeni Malkin breaks his 15 game scoring drought not too long after the Isles first of the game to bring the Pens back to a 2-goal game. The Isles would, nevertheless, persist and pressure the Penguins, forcing Pittsburgh to make some glaring mental errors: Colin McDonald capitalizes on a missed Penguins scoring chance by Kris Letang, going back on a 2-on-1 with Matt Martin to bring the Isles within one; Kyle Okposo intercepts a Paul Martin pass inside the Pens zone, which he sends to John Tavares, and with some scrambling in front of the Pens’s net, Thomas Vanek shovels the puck past Jeff Zatkoff for his second of the game, and tying it all up in the process.  The star of the period, however, is Mr. Kevin Poulin who withstood a barrage of shots late in the 2nd, keeping it all knotted up at 3 going into the third; his best period of the season. SOG 13-12 Isles
  • Andrew MacDonald makes his return, allowing Isles country to breathe a bit easier.  The third period was marked by tight checking, continued strong efforts, fast skating, and miscues in defensive zones from both teams. Kevin Poulin continued his stalwart play, prohibiting sloppy rebounds and cutting off the shooting angles incredibly well.  But a chip-and-chase and dreadful coverage by Cal Clutterbuck and Thomas Hickey allow Sidney Crosby alone and he buries the puck for the Penguins’s 4th–the winning goal.  The Isles lose a much-deserved game. They had an opportunity to tie with a late the game with a 2-man advantage, but their efforts thwarted. SOG 8-9 Pens

Statistics

Goals

Period 1

Period 2

Period 3

  • Sidney Crosby (12).  Assists: Pascal Dupuis and Chris Kunitz. 3-4*

Penalties

SOG

  • 35-34 Islanders

Turning Point

The Thomas Vanek tying goal, and immediately thereafter, Kevin Poulin with a big save on a Pascal Dupuis scoring chance; then Poulin robs Evgeni Malkin late in the 3rd on an Islander defensive miscue that left the Pens’s forward alone in front….until…

Sidney Crosby scores the go-ahead late in the third. Miscues cause of all the goal.

What’s Ahead

The New York Islanders go to Philadelphia tomorrow night to face a team that has their number as of late, hoping to avenge the 5-2 loss handed to them at the Coliseum on 26 Oct.

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