The New York Islanders came at exactly the right time for the Penguins. Heading into the game with a three game losing streak they got a chance to go up against a team that can’t help but bleed shots. The Islanders obliged and the Penguins were able to take two points with an overtime victory. Splitting a point with the Islanders comes without consequence to the Penguins so all in all a good night.
The score was tighter than the game flow.
Pittsburgh came close to doubling up the Islanders on shots. The Penguins had 50 to the Islanders 27. The Penguins made some minor lineup changes as they gave Matt Hunwick and Carter Rowney the night off in favor of Chad Ruhwedel and Dominik Simon respectively. Tough to say how much of an impact it was because the Islanders are so terrible defensively.
Tristan Jarry left the game with a .923 save percentage which is plenty good enough, although the first goal he allowed had Benny Hill music on in the background. Not sure if I’ve ever seen something quite like it.
The other goal that the Islanders scored went in off Jamie Oleksiak’s skate and in so in a weird way Jarry played good. John Tavares had the primary assist on that second goal and is that the last point the fans in Pittsburgh will see John Tavares score against them in an Islanders jersey. For John’s sake I hope so. He’s a great Islander, but that doesn’t mean he has to play out the rest of his career on an island with no rescue boat coming.
Pittsburgh’s goals were a little more aesthetically pleasing. Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel worked a controlled entry into a wide open Patric Hornqvist goal on their power play transition
Phil Kessel had his feet moving again on the Penguins second goal and Derick Brassard was able to score his first goal as a Penguin
The bounce was fortunate, but Phil created time and space with his legs and when you have net front traffic sometimes you get the puck to fall right on your stick. Not a ton here conceptually. Hockey in its basic form.
Even with the discrepancy in shots the game did go to overtime. Sidney Crosby played the role of hero when he got free on a 2 on 1. He did a great job of keeping the puck in a position where the goaltender couldn’t get a read on pass or shot. When you combine that with Crosby’s shot release you have a situation where the goalie can’t react in time and he didn’t
Some Sid facts courtesy of Bob Grove
Sid with his 12th career regular season OT goal, tying Malkin for all-time team lead. He has more of those (3) vs. NYI than any other team.
— Bob Grove (@bobgrove91) March 4, 2018
Pens matched season high with 82 shot attempts tonight. Also Nov. 27 vs. Flyers in 5-4 OT victory. Sid won that one, too, at 1:48 vs. Elliott.
— Bob Grove (@bobgrove91) March 4, 2018
With that assist Kris Letang reached a Penguins milestone
Kris Letang recorded an assist on Sidney Crosby’s OT goal to boost his career totals to 92-333—425 in 666 GP and surpass Paul Coffey for the most assists by a defenseman in @penguins franchise history. #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/W0RMV9UrWa
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) March 4, 2018
This kid is living the life. I thought I had it good growing up on hockey trips that had a VCR hookup
@penguins watching the replay of last nights game in the car on the way to hockey #Crosby pic.twitter.com/9TxtttXLsv
— CRock (@pongchmp) March 4, 2018
Happy birthday to a legend
Call Arnold Slick from Turtle Creek and tell him today is a very important day!
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) March 3, 2018
Happy birthday to legendary hall-of-fame broadcaster, Mike Lange. pic.twitter.com/aq88ghzf4m
Thanks for reading!