Jarry Perfect Again, Penguins Crunch Islanders 1-0 for 5th Straight Win

The Pittsburgh Penguins (10-6-4) have been through lean moments with a depleted lineup and won games. The New York Islanders (5-10-2) are struggling to do so. Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry earned his third shutout in five games, and the Penguins won their fifth straight game by beating New York, 1-0 at the new UBS Arena on Friday night.

Try as they might, the Penguins couldn’t get another goal. They blitzed New York for extended periods. Jason Zucker and Sidney Crosby also had breakaways in the final five minutes but could not beat New York goalie Ilya Sorokin.

Jarry made a victory-saving save with two minutes remaining as he sprawled to stop Otto Koivula in the crease.

Overall, Tristan Jarry stopped the 14 shots he faced in the first 40 minutes and all 25 shots he faced.

The Penguins lone goal was later in the second period.

After missing a glorious chance early in the second period, Penguins winger Kapseri Kapanen ended a six-game goalless drought late in the period. On a two-on-one, Kapanen (5) kept the puck and blistered a wrist shot to the far post past Ilya Sorokin.

Kapanen’s last goal was Nov. 13. Before that, he scored a hat trick on Nov. 6.

The New York lineup was without seven players, including Josh Bailey, Anders Lee, and Adam Pelech, due to COVID protocols. Overall, nine regular Islanders were out of the lineup.

The team had lost seven in a row. All by three goals or more. The Islanders have now lost eight in a row.

The boys line-scrummed midway through the third period. Islanders winger Matt Martin contacted Jarry. Gloves, helmets, and sticks went flying. Each team took a pair of minors, and 5v5 even-strength play continued.

The first period was a drag race completed in just over 30 minutes. There were no penalties, few whistles, and no goals.

In the first 10 minutes, the Pittsburgh Penguins led the shot clock 10-1. However, New York pushed back over the last half of the period, and the shots stabilized to a 12-6 Penguins advantage.

Sidney Crosby had a couple of high danger chances, and New York goalie Ilya Sorokin robbed him in the first few minutes of the game.

Penguins winger Bryan Rust left warmups and was not able to play. Coaches inserted Brian Boyle onto the third line and elevated Evan Rodrigues to the top-line RW with Crosby and Jake Guentzel.

The Penguins outchanced New York 13-7 in the first period, according to NaturalStatTrick.com. 

The Penguins kept Jarry safe in the final minute by blocking several shots. Jarry’s GAA is now below 2.00.