Islanders Fall 6-3 in Pittsburgh as Penguins Clinch a Playoff Spot
After a shootout win on Tuesday, the New York Islanders were back in action against the Penguins this time in Pittsburgh. This game did not start great for the Isles as Kris Letang got the Pens on the board with a blast from the blue line that beat Ilya Sorokin.
That wasn't all, after a power play opportunity failed, Danton Heinen was sent in on a breakaway coming out of the box and he too was able to beat Sorokin to give the Penguins a two goal lead. Before the end of the frame, Casey Cizikas took a high stick from Mark Friedman who was given a double minor but the Isles weren't able to find the back of the net.
In the second, the Islanders got right back in this game. Mathew Barzal and Zach Parise came in and Barzal found Parise for his 14th goal of the season.
Unfortunately, Jake Guentzel would add one more goal to make it 3-1 Pens before the end of the second period. Guentzel has been on fire recently and now has three goals in the past two games against the Islanders.
In the third period, the Islanders had a mishap that sent Jake Guentzel and Sidney Crosby in on a 2-on-0 and well, Sidney Crosby burried it. Ilya Sorokin had no chance on that one.
Anders Lee would get one down low on the feed from Brock Nelson to make it a 4-2 game.
Anders Lee is now up to s on the season after finding the back of the net. Brock McGinn would add an empty net goal seconds later to make it 5-2. I will say though before the end of the game, Zdeno Chara scored his first of the season and his first with the Islanders since 2001. That was a cool moment in an otherwise brutal game. Jake Guentzel would add an empty netter to end this one, a 6-3 Penguins win clinches them a playoff spot.
The Islanders are back in action against Montreal tomorrow night.