Penguins Old Habits Die Hard; Blown Lead & Shootout Loss

ELMONT, NY — Pittsburgh Penguins (5-7-2) had a two-goal third period lead, but old habits, such as failing to protect a late lead, die hard.

The New York Islanders (5-6-2) rallied for a pair of third period goals and overtime. The Penguins also failed to convert on an overtime power play and lost in the shootout, ending their two-game winning streak but creating a three-game points streak as New York won 4-3 in a shootout at UBS Arena Tuesday.

According to Penguins historian Bob Grove, the Penguins have been incredibly successful when coaches pair Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Since the duo united with the Penguins in 2006, the team is 41-21-8. In those 70 games, Crosby posted 40 goals and 118 points. Malkin had 43 goals and 92 points. In the last 20 games paired, the Penguins are 16-4-0.

Thanks, Grover. As if on cue, Crosby and Malkin scored the first two Penguins goals.

Nedeljkovic was 2-0-0 with a .959 save percentage before Tuesday. He was outstanding in the first period, making no less than four important saves on prime scoring chances, including a breakaway by Max Tsyplakov in the final minute of the first period.

The Islanders registered just seven shots in the first period, but more than half were high-danger scoring chances. The Penguins also had a handful of good rips at New York goalie Ilya Sorokin.

The Penguins tilted ice finally paid off early in the second period. Rickard Rakell’s forecheck created a turnover behind the New York net, and a quick tap by Evgeni Malkin to Crosby (6) for a backhand one-timer finally put the Penguins on the board at 5:27.

The tally meant Crosby scored five of the last six team goals.

Kyle Palmieri scored his 13th career goal against the Penguins midway through the second period. He’s not scored more against any other team (He’s also scored 13 goals against Boston and Philadelphia). Palmieri (6) beat Penguins defenseman Kris Letang to a rebound near the net and poked it into the yawning cage as Nedeljkovic had lost sight of the fluttering puck at 12:21 of the second period.

Malkin got his own goal later in the second. On the Penguins’ third power play of the game, it took just 16 seconds for Matt Grzelcyk to tee up a one-timer for Malkin (4), who blasted it past Sorokin, who looked to the ceiling in disbelief at 13:37.

Midway through the third period, New York pressed, but the Penguins counterattacked, and Michael Bunting finally got his first goal of the season. Noel Acciari’s defensive work sprung Jesse Puljujarvi and Bunting on a two-on-one. The defenseman stepped into Puljujarvi, leaving Bunting (1) open for the breakaway goal at 7:44.

However, the Penguins attempted to protect their lead rather than continue to dominate the puck, and New York scored a pair of goals three minutes apart in the third period.

Simon Holmstrom, who had several great chances in the game, was finally rewarded at 9:41. Moments after Drew O’Connor took a tripping penalty, Holmstrom (1) roofed a backhand over a sprawled defenseman Marcus Pettersson and Nedeljkovic.

A few minutes later, the Penguins failed to clear or maintain possession, and that top line was responsible for Jean-Gabriel Pageau being wide open for a point-blank wrister (3), which he converted for a tie game.

Nedeljkovic stopped 23 of 26 in regulation. Sorokin stopped 30 of 33.

Notes:

Oliver Wahlstrom and Rakell were stopped in Round One of the shootout.

Bo Horvat scored in the second round, but Crosby was denied.

Kyle Palmieri nearly stopped in front of the net but Nedeljkovic made the save in the third round, but Kris Letang was denied.

The Penguins were 1-for-4 on the power play with five shots. New York was 1-for-4.