Islanders vs. Penguins Winners-Losers: Too many passengers in team loss

We’ve seen this story before. The New York Islanders show up way too late for this one and end up losing it 6-3 to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Isles are 2-3-2 against the Pens this season with the eighth and final match upcoming on Monday at PPG Paints Arena.

The Isles dug themselves a big hole thanks to just about everyone not showing up. From the forwards and down through both goalies.

Like Barry Trotz said in the post-game presser: “we weren’t good enough, we had too many passengers”.

New York Islanders fall 6-3 to Pittsburgh Penguins in total team loss

Winners

This was tough, like I said, just about everyone for the Islanders had a bad game so I went with the goal scorers as the winners tonight:

Mathew Barzal (1G, 1A, 4SOG): The Islanders star player needed to show up. He’s been far too quiet for far too long. Sure, having Leo Komarov on his line isn’t helping him any, but elite-level players like Barzal are supposed to find a way to transcend their linemates.

Anthony Beauvillier (1G, 2SOG): Beau is so hot right now. With a goal in the first five minutes of the third period, Beauvillier now has a four-game goal streak. After a slow go through most of the year, Beauvillier is finally turning it on. With the absence of Anders Lee, it’s come at the perfect time.

Jordan Eberle (1G, 5SOG): He probably should have earned a power play at the end of the game, but regardless, Eberle had a good game with a goal and five shots towards the net. That doesn’t count the one that he rang off the post.

Losers

Where do I begin? Most of the team was terrible tonight so it’s going to be hard to pin it to just three guys. Here were the three worst in my opinion:

Ilya Sorokin (4GA, 5 Saves, 0.556SV%): The stat line alone should tell you everything you need to know about Sorokin’s game. He wasn’t a difference-maker for the Isles tonight, at least not in a positive way.

The loss wasn’t all on him, but he certainly wasn’t great with the limited action he saw. With an average night from Sorokin, the Isles may not win, but it may not have been so lopsided.

Nick Leddy (1A, -2, 2PIM, 2SOG): Leddy took the penalty early in the second that allowed the Penguins to go up 3-0. His decision-making out there was subject as well (specifically exiting the zone), and he finished the night -2. Just not a good game from Leddy. Sure, another assist, but man was Leddy a negative factor today.

Scott Mayfield (+2, 2PIM, 3SOG): Another game with another penalty for Scott Mayfield. This time the opposition made him pay for it. Ending +2 on the night makes it look like he wasn’t that bad out there, but like with Nick Leddy, his decision-making out there was subject. Mayfield should not be given the puck to exit the zone.