UBS Arena is still a house of horrors for the Penguins. For the second time this season the Penguins come away with a loss against the Islanders, losing 6-3 on Saturday coming out of the break.
The first period saw the Islanders score first. It was an Anthony Duclair snipe to put the Isles up. In a welcome turn of events, the goal was called off after goaltender interference was ruled after a review. New York would go up 1-0 anyway on a J.G. Pageau goal with under six minutes left in the period.
On the power play moments later, Michael Bunting tied the game up with his 10th of the season. For a moment, Sidney Crosby was credited with the secondary assist on the tally, vaulting him into sole possession of the all-time Penguins assist leader. However, once the period ended, the official scorer took Crosby off the score sheet.
All the celebratory posts were deleted as Sid did not factor into any more goals for the rest of the game.
All fears were realized in the 2nd period. The red-hot Penguins were nowhere to be found, and the lifeless Islanders were invigorated and reanimated. I said, perhaps, the worst thing for the Penguins during this hot stretch was extended time off. The second frame amplified that.
Duclair got on the board for good with a goal just over five minutes in, and then the flood gates opened. Anders Lee was credited with a goal on a shot that slipped by Jarry, but it was Kris Letang that put it into his own net while fumbling it in the crease.
Casey Cizikas punched in another ugly goal moments later, putting New York up 4-1. Three goals in exactly four minutes. The last two were defensive breakdowns and not entirely on Jarry. The lack of Marcus Pettersson was manifested in a way the Penguins hadn't shown since his injury.
At some point Tristan Jarry has to cease being the scapegoat for the odd-man rushes and poor defensive positioning. Yes, some goals are on the goalie, but to blame the goalie for every goal just reveals that naysayers aren't actually watching the game.
The Penguins actually made things interesting at the end of the third, getting a depth goal from Noel Acciari and then a tip-in from Rickard Rakell right before the buzzer of the 2nd period. All of a sudden it was 4-3.
Unfortunately for the Penguins, much of the 3rd period was played in the neutral zone and there were very few chances for either side until Casey Cizikas snuck behind the defense and beat Jarry on a fast break chance with about five minutes left.
The Isles added on the final tally on an empty net and emerged from their haunted house with two points.
The Penguins had four opportunities on the power play and only came away with one goal against the Isles. While they did not surrender a power play goal, to only be 25% against what is on pace to be the worst penalty kill in NHL history is certainly not encouraging.
This loss seems quite untimely with several Eastern Conference teams winning on Saturday. The Penguins will return home and get a second crack at the Islanders right away, matching up in Pittsburgh on Sunday at 5:30pm EST.
As it's been very clearly stated, points are a premium at this stage of the game for the Penguins. Losing on the road is fine occasionally, but it means that Sunday's game in Pittsburgh turns into a must-win.
