Sansided
Eyes On Isles
Home/Editorials

New York Islanders Sweep Pittsburgh Penguins With 3-1 Game Four: 3 Takeaways

PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 16: Brock Nelson #29 of the New York Islanders celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the first period in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG PAINTS Arena on April 16, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 16: Brock Nelson #29 of the New York Islanders celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the first period in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG PAINTS Arena on April 16, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
new york islanders
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK – APRIL 10: Robin Lehner #40 of the New York Islanders prepares to play against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum on April 10, 2019 in Uniondale, New York. The Islanders defeated the Penguins 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Picking on Lehner

The New York Islanders focused their attention on Evgeni Malkin in games two and three. They got in his face and took him out of the game.

Facing elimination the Pittsburgh Penguins tried to do the same. You’d think they’d go after someone like Mathew Barzal or even Jordan Eberle. Both have been the better players going forward for the New York Islanders. But the Penguins decided to pick on goalie Robin Lehner.

The strategy, on paper, sounds wise. Get the goalie out of the game and the Penguins should be in a good position to win.

It’s just, Robin Lehner is about as close to the modern day Billy Smith as you can get. He’s big and boy can Lehner be mean. Not to mention he’s got that cheese board strapped to his hand.

In the second period Penguins forward Patrick Hornqvist decided to test Lehner anyways. Not a good idea.

By that point, Lehner had allowed one goal in game four and only one in the previous two games. After the altercation, Lehner would stop every single shot the Penguins would throw at him. He’d get the last laugh.

It’s never a good idea to go after a goalie. And certainly not one as large as Lehner. The 6’4″ 240lbs shot stopper not only has the size, but he’s protected and even weaponized.

Not to mention what happens when that strategy doesn’t work. By going after Lehner, the Penguins just galvanized Lehner’s resolve. He knew the Pens only answer was to get him out of the game. They didn’t and they couldn’t find a way back into the game and into the series.

facebooktwitterreddit