From comeback to collapse.
After scoring five second-period goals to overcome a two-goal deficit in Saturday’s win over the Panthers, the Islanders allowed the Penguins to do the same Monday, closing a crucial five-game homestand by allowing seven unanswered goals in an 8-3 loss at UBS Arena.
The embarrassing defensive effort led to Ilya Sorokin being pulled for just the second time this season, as the Islanders allowed their most goals this season and gave away a pair of two-goal advantages, as well as a massive opportunity.
The potential playoff preview saw the Penguins (37-21-16, 90 points) earn their first regulation win in two weeks and jump ahead of the Islanders (42-28-5, 89 points) for second place in the Metropolitan Division.
The Islanders remain one point ahead of Columbus for the final wild-card spot, while Ottawa — the next closest playoff contender — is just three points behind the Islanders, with two games in hand.
Seven games still remain — including Tuesday at Buffalo — in the regular season. Five more will come at home. Ultimately, this loss may not mean much to the Islanders. But conveying that to the packed house in Elmont was impossible, as the mood fell from elation to silence in barely three and a half minutes.
For 23 minutes, Sorokin appeared impenetrable. Anders Lee was opportunistic, burying a backhand off the boards for the game’s first goal in the opening minutes of the second period. Mathew Barzal looked like a magician, setting up scoring chances virtually every time he touched the puck. He put the Islanders up 2-0 with a wrist shot 2:56 into the second period, breaking a nine-game drought without a goal for his 19th of the season.
Then, Barzal found space again, firing a shot that rebounded off Pittsburgh’s Arturs Silovs, allowing deadline acquisition Brayden Schenn to score for the second straight game and put the Islanders up 3-1 with 10:43 remaining in the second period.
They were halfway to building a three-point lead over the Penguins, halfway to their fourth win in five games. Then, the defense disappeared, repeatedly putting Sorokin on an island and losing the lead in a span of 3:34.
Rickard Rakell scored a short-handed goal to make it 3-2. Ryan Shea tied it with a one-timer. And then Anthony Mantha broke free, beating Sorokin five-hole to put the Penguins ahead with 6:25 left in the second period, as Patrick Roy hung his head.
It only got worse.
Mantha closed the period with another goal, taking advantage of a defensive breakdown to beat Sorokin with a backhand.
Then, after the Penguins scored their fifth and sixth unanswered goals in the third period, backup goalie David Rittich replaced Sorokin, who had allowed seven goals on 26 shots. Sorokin had allowed a total of four goals in the previous four games.
Rittich allowed the final one, sparking “Let’s go Pens” chants on Long Island — the final insult.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
