*NOTE: Apologies that I didn’t have time for the pre-game report yesterday.*
The New York Islanders had their 10-game win streak snapped yesterday at the hands of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Here’s the game recap.
Casey Cizikas opened the scoring 20 seconds in, first beating out an icing call then getting Ryan Pulock’s rebound from a shot that bounced off the boards, as he went to the backhand and put it up and over Matt Murray. Quite a start for Cizikas. The first period was fairly even but Semyon Varlamov had to make some good saves, especially one off a deflection by Sidney Crosby, as Pittsburgh outshot New York 11-8 in the first period.
In the second period, Cizikas got the puck at Pittsburgh’s blue line, then fed Cal Clutterbuck who was all alone and beat Matt Murray five-hole. In the last two games, it’s been the fourth line providing not only the energy but also a good chunk of the scoring, which we don’t see too often.
The Islanders then added to their lead, as Adam Pelech had his point shot deflect off Teddy Blueger’s stick and find its way in through traffic to increase the lead to 3-0. Near the end of the period, Josh Bailey got a pass through to Brock Nelson but he was robbed by the pad of Matt Murray and this would be a costly missed chance for the Islanders.
The third period is where things went south. Jared McCann got Pittsburgh on the board early in the period, taking a weak, mid-range shot but Varlamov didn’t see it. Then about five minutes later came the turning point.
Matt Murray, laying flat on the ice, made an incredible pad save on Anthony Beauvillier who was all alone in front, raising his leg to take away a sure goal. Then before anyone could really take in how great of a save it was, Bryan Rust went back the other way and snapped a great shot past Varlamov to bring it to 3-2.
Two minutes later the Penguins completed the comeback, as an initial point shot from Juuso Riikola rang square off the crossbar but Evgeni Malkin was there to tap-in the rebound.
In overtime, the Penguins took the win on a sloppy play from the Islanders. First, Brock Nelson played the puck back to no one, then Ryan Pulock tied up Malkin and put the puck back to Nelson but Bryan Rust picked his pocket, wrapped the puck around and put it five-hole on Varlamov. It was certainly an avoidable goal.
Regardless, though Matt Murray needed to make a few key saves, this was Pittsburgh’s game. They outshot New York 39-23, including 28-15 after the first period. Varlamov was generally quite good but lost track of the puck on three of the four goals.
New York’s next game comes tomorrow against the Florida Panthers.
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OTHER ISLANDERS ARTICLES FROM NOVEMBER
Game Recap (Game 14): NYI vs OTT
Game Recap (Game 13): NYI @ BUF 
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