New York Islanders Lose in Ugly Fashion 6-2 to Penguins

The New York Islanders played a truly ugly game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. They rarely showed up to play. Made obvious with a 6-2 scoreline.

Coming off a loss to the Winnipeg Jets a few nights ago you’d think the New York Islanders who traveled to Pittsburgh would make amends for the loss. They didn’t. Not even close.

The Islanders put up one of their worst efforts of the season as they fell to the Pittsburgh Penguins and Sidney Crosby 6-2. (Crosby got a goal and two assists on the night).

It wasn’t consistently bad. The Isles played well enough in the first period. It was in the second period where it all came undone for them.

First Period

Kris Letang would open the scoring for the Pittsburgh Penguins 8:34 into the game with a give-and-go with Derick Brassard. Not the way you want to start, but there’s still a ton of hockey to play.

The Isles played well over the next few minutes and were eventually rewarded with a well worked short-handed goal from none-other than

Brock Nelson

(thanks to a good pass by

Tom Kuhnhackl

).

Unfortunately, the Pittsburgh Penguins would respond through Kris Letang less than two minutes later.

Going into the second period, the Isles were still well in the game with still 40 minutes to play.

Second Period

In the second period the Penguins would add three more goals through Riley Sheahan and two from Phil Kessel. The game was over with 20 minutes to go with a 5-1 scoreline.

The Isles just didn’t show up in the second period. They registered just four shots in the second period. And never challenged Penguins goalie Casey DeSmith.

Third Period

The game was already over before the puck was dropped in the third. But the Isles did their best to get back into it.

Thomas Greiss made way for Chris Gibson to start the third period. Not thatyou could blame Greiss for the four goal deficit, but it’s typically the first tool the coach uses to try and spark his team.

It didn’t work.

The Isles were certainly a bit better in they generated chances, but they didn’t stop the bleeding. Even though

Anders Lee

scored his fourth goal in four games to reduce the deficit to 5-2.

Sadly, Sidney Crosby would make it 6-2 with an easy shot on Chris Gibson who just wasn’t tight enough to his post.

This is perhaps the first “Dougie” blowout suffered by the New York Islanders this season. It was realy ugly. Like ugly Christmas sweater levels of ugly.

Three Stars

1. Phil Kessel: 2 goals, 2 assists

Give the man a hot dog (or two). He deserved it tonight. Kessel added four points to his 29 points in 26 games this season.

2. Sidney Crosby: 1 goal, 2 assists 

I hate him. Not as much as Tom Wilson. I hate SIdney Crosby because I’m envious of his skill and how he shows it on a daily basis. And how he LOVES to score against the New York Islanders.

3. Not Any Islander

I try my best to try and get an New York Islanders player up here, even in a loss. Not tonight. Tonight was bad, and the Isles played poorly all night.