Heading into the postseason, most prognosticators thought that the Pittsburgh Penguins would blow the Islanders out of the playoffs in four or five games. The Islanders proved them wrong with a resounding 6-4 victory on Tuesday evening to even the series at two.
After a clutch 5-4 win in overtime on Sunday, many thought that the Penguins had regained momentum in the series. However, the Islanders came out with their usually energetic style and dominated the first period. At the 14:05 mark, defenseman Brian Strait blasted a shot from the point that got past Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. However just 45 seconds later, the Penguins evened the game on a James Neal shot on the right side.
The Islanders took back the lead on the powerplay when Mark Streit blasted a shot into the net at the 6:19 mark. However, the Islanders blew yet another lead just 58 seconds later on a defensive miscue. Frans Nielsen started toward the bench before realizing that Penguins center Evgeni Malkin was skating down the ice on a two-on-one with Neal. Malkin fired the shot past Isles goalie Evgeni Nabokov to tie the score. Less than four minutes later Brandon Sutter gave the Penguins a 3-2 lead and it seemed that New York would be out of the game. However, Kyle Okposo, who has had a tremendous performance in the playoffs, tied the game when he banked a shot off Fleury to even score right before the second period expired.
The Penguins scored an early goal just 41 seconds in, but Streit scored his second goal of the game to tie the score less than four minutes later. Then Islanders superstar John Tavares continued to prove his clutch play less than six minutes later. Brad Boyes stopped a clearing attempt from Malkin and dished the puck to Tavares in the center of the ice. Tavares shot the puck on goal and then scored off his rebound.
"He's had a great year and he's scored some big goals," Islanders captain Mark Streit said the Islanders' superstar. "He's unbelievable in front of the net, he's a big leader in the room, and he got us the win tonight."
The Penguins began to press as the time wound down, but Casey Cizikas sealed the deal with a rush down the right wing. He backhanded the puck to the front of the net and it managed to deflect of Fleury's stick to give the Islanders a 6-4 win.
The victory marked the first time since 2002 that the Islanders would win on home ice; it also represented the first time since 2002 that Islanders will play more than five games in a playoff series. The team was eliminated in five games in each of the series played in 2003, 2004, and 2007.
The Penguins now face a major question of whether to start Fleury in Game five after he allowed four or more goals for the third straight game.
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