The New York Islanders will head to Pittsburgh with an even series, tied at two games a piece. While two of the last three games of this best of seven will be on the road, the eight seed from Long Island looks poised to make a move on the Eastern Conference favorite, Penguins.
John Tavares scored the game winning goal 10:11 into the third period and Casey Cizikas added another late goal to route the Penguins 6-4, Tuesday night.
For the Penguins, it was a carbon copy of last season’s breakdown against the Philadelphia Flyers. The team that swore and execute a better defensive approach throughout the regular season officially came unglued for the entire hockey world to see. Kris Letang and Mark Eaton made countless turnovers in their own end, Evgeni Malkin gave back every goal he was involved in, and Marc-Andre Fleury completely melted down.
Meanwhile, the Islanders weathered an offensive storm from the Penguins, counter punched, then briskly killed the remaining nine minutes of the game without allowing any serious scoring chances.
The Penguins killed off two penalties early in the opening period but former Penguin Brian Strait scored to give the Islanders a 1-0 lead. Strait’s shot from the left point found its way through a screened Marc-Andre Fleury.
Evgeni Malkin setup James Neal, returning from an ankle injury in Game 1, for the equalizer just 45 seconds after Strait’s goal. Malkin led a three on two rush, delayed, then found Neal on the right wing circle for the one-timer.
New York broke the 1-1 tie with a power play goal on the Penguins’ fourth penalty of the game. Mark Streit’s slap shot beat Fleury who went down when he was bumped by John Tavares.
Again, the Penguins responded with a goal less than a minute later. Jarome Iginla found Evgeni Malkin in the neutral zone creating a two on one with James Neal as the Islanders were changing. Malkin closed in on Evgeni Nabokov and fired a shot that beat the stick side of the goaltender.
The Penguins took the lead with Brandon Sutter’s first NHL goal. Matt Cooke had a huge hit along the corner boards to start the forecheck and Brenden Morrow found Sutter from the left wing hash mark. Sutter’s shot bounced off of Nabokov’s left shoulder but he didn’t get enough of the puck to keep it from going in the net.
With Andrew MacDonald heading to the box, the Penguins had a chance to take a critical two-goal lead with a power play that cashed in on 46% of their chances heading into Game 4. Instead the Penguins became careless with the puck and almost gave up a shorthanded goal.
Then, late in the period, Josh Bailey scored on a weak goal from behind the net. Bailey corralled a puck and lightly threw it towards the goal. The puck went off of Fleury’s left pad and into the net to tie the score at three.
Pascal Dupuis gave the Penguins a 4-3 lead just 41 seconds into the third period deflecting a shot from Chris Kunitz.
The Islanders responded with a lucky bounce of their own when Mark Streit’s shot deflected off of Douglas Murray’s skate and past the outstretch left pad of Marc-Andre Fleury.
Six minutes later the Islanders took the lead on a goal from their best player. John Tavares took advantage of an Evgeni Malkin turnover in front of the Penguins’ goal and put a shot on Fleury. The rebound came back to Tavares who buried the second-chance opportunity.
With nine minutes still left on the clock, the Islanders crowded the defensive zone, forced turnovers, and chipped the puck back out to center ice. Casey Cizikas drove wide with the puck with under two minutes remaining in the game and shove the puck past Fleury for the clincher.
- The Penguins have allowed 44 goals in their last 10 playoff games.
- Andrew MacDonald was injured during his penalty and did not return.
- Travis Hamonic and Evgeni Malkin both took fighting majors at the end of the game, a suspend-able offense.
Three Stars
- John Tavares
- Mark Streit
- Evgeni Malkin
Photo courtesy of NHL.com
