The last time the Pittsburgh Penguins met the New York Islanders in an overtime, elimination game, David Volek scored to complete an upset in Game 7 of the 1993 Eastern Conference Semi-Finals and spoiled the Pens’ chances of winning a third consecutive Stanley Cup. In that game, the Penguins dominated, out shooting the Islanders 45-20 in a losing effort.
This time, the tables were turned.
Brooks Orpik scored his first career playoff goal in 106 games 7:49 into overtime to defeat the New York Islanders 4-3, Saturday night on Long Island. It was a goal from one of the unlikeliest of players in a game where the Penguins were heavily outplayed.
The Islanders came out with a lot of energy and desperation and the Penguins countered with what looked to be a listless effort despite being up 3-2 in the series.
New York came out swinging off the opening draw and controlled the puck in the Pittsburgh zone. After an icing call, Dan Bylsma elected to use his timeout just 1:19 into the game.
It didn’t help the Penguins refocus as the Islanders took a 1-0 lead four minutes after the break. Matt Carkner reversed the puck around behind the net where it found Josh Bailey. Bailey then fed John Tavares who was wide open in the right slot and buried a perfect wrist shot past Tomas Vokoun.
The Penguins quickly answered just two minutes later. Sidney Crosby took a pass from Paul Martin at center ice and beat the defensemen to the net. Crosby’s backhand attempt was stopped by Evgeni Nabokov but Jarome Iginla swooped in to jam home the rebound.
Going into the first intermission with a 1-1 score would have been great for the Penguins, but a defensive break down with under a minute remaining in the first period led to another Islanders goal. Michael Grabner forced Paul Martin into the boards then stole the puck. Grabner found Keith Aucoin just a few feet from the right post and sent him the puck before Aucoin dished a cross-crease pass to Colin McDonald for the easy goal.
After killing a Brenden Morrow penalty early in the second period, the Penguins had easily the worst power play of the season without giving up a goal. However, 19 seconds after the power play was over, the Penguins scored to even the score at two a piece.
Matt Niskanen sent the puck to Joe Vitale who went wide on Travis Hamonic before sending a perfect backhand pass to the front of the net. Pascal Dupuis crashed the crease at the perfect time and tipped the puck past Nabokov.
Going into the third period, the Penguins were outshot 28-13, but they were tied with a chance to take the lead. Instead, the Islanders, once again, broke the tie off a Penguins’ turnover. Kris Letang’s pass was cut off by Aucoin just inside the blue line. Aucoin delayed before finding Grabner in the left wing circle for the one-timer.
Vokoun stood tall the rest of the way making nine saves including back to back stops on two on one rushes. As the third period wore on, the Penguins started to tilt ice. Evgeni Malkin, who had been terrible in the game up until this point, muscled his way to the puck and found Paul Martin on the left point. Martin’s slapshot was low but Frans Nielsen accidentally tipped the puck into his own net to tie the score at three.
With the game in overtime the Penguins went right back to turning the puck over and handing opportunities to the Islanders. Michael Grabner stole the puck at the blue line, circled behind the net and just missed a wraparound goal.
The Penguins threw very few counterpunches in overtime, but their last one proved to be the knockout blow to the Islanders’ season. Evgeni Malkin past the puck to Tyler Kennedy who then sent it back to Brooks Orpik on the left point. Orpik’s slapshot snaked its way towards the net and rattled around in the cage for the series-clinching goal.
While the Penguins move on to face the Ottawa Senators in the second round, the New York Islanders will have a summer to reflect on an exciting season that saw them make the playoffs for the first time since 2006-2007.
- The Penguins have now won seven straight road playoff overtime games.
- Jarome Iginla registered at least one point in all six games vs. the Islanders.
- Pittsburgh is now 1-3 all-time in playoff series against the Islanders.
Three Stars
- Brooks Orpik
- Tomas Vokoun
- John Tavares
Photo courtesy of NHL.com
