PHN EXTRA: It’s Over. Penguins Series Report Card vs. Islanders

PITTSBURGH — It was a pass or fail night for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Beauty and process were secondary to results against the stingy New York Islanders who only rarely have a skate out of line. New York passed, the Penguins failed. It wasn’t hard to see. Despite each coach claiming the series was tight, the scoreboard told the story. It doesn’t matter how close, four wins in a row is resounding.

And the Penguins should take heed.

As with the previous three games, the Pittsburgh Penguins scored but watched the New York Islanders quickly return serve. The same happened in Game 4, too.

Tactically, the game did not differ tactically from the previous three games, though the Penguins did force New York to defend low more often. However, the Penguins still could not translate low possession into goals, or even good shots on net. The Penguins went after New York in all three zones with the necessary intensity and desire but New York was in position between the Penguins and the net.