Despite being one of the NHL’s hottest teams entering the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Pittsburgh Penguins are on the point of another postseason meltdown.
The New York Islanders beat the Penguins 3-2 on a Josh Bailey’s gift-goal in the next overtime Monday to take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-7 series.
The Penguins tossed away the match with three mistakes within their zone. They all resulted in targets.
The worst was by goaltender Tristan Jarry. He strove to make a breakout pass up the middle of the ice and saw Bailey steal it and score 51 seconds into the second overtime.
“I’m a pretty easygoing person, therefore it’s just about going about my business and doing what I could to be better the next day,” Jarry said Tuesday.
Jarry has played every game in the series using backup Casey DeSmith sidelined with an undisclosed injury.
The must-win scenario isn’t what the Penguins anticipated after posting a 26-8-2 record from March 2 through the end of their regular season. They now face another straight postseason disappointment after being ousted by 12th-seeded Montreal in a year’s qualifying round.
“We’ve got to win one baseball game. That is the way I look at it,” he explained. “That is exactly what I said to the players following the match. We’ve got a lot of leadership that has been through a lot of adventures in this league, especially in the playoffs. We will just keep this thing in perspective”
The Islanders have defeated the Penguins in four of their five postseason meetings, such as a four-game sweep two years ago.
Islanders coach Barry Trotz said that his team is centered on Wednesday, maybe not beyond.
“When we get into our game and we’re able to stay with our sport, we’re in people in those really important clinching games and and we’ve had success,” he explained. “When we have not been able to, then it’s a little more difficult.”
Trotz had no upgrade on forward Oliver Wahlstrom, who left the game in the third period after awkwardly crashing into the boards. Veteran Travis Zajac probably would play if he can not.
The Panthers got a 36-save functionality from Spencer Knight in his Stanley Cup debut in a 4-1 triumph over the defending Cup winners to stave off elimination. At 20 years, 35 days, the Darien, Connecticut, native became the youngest goaltender in NHL history to make his playoffs debut with his team facing removal.
“I’m not really thinking much about the score, which I have given up, what’s coming at me,” Knight said. “I just kind of respond and just keep in mind that I am playing hockey, regardless of whether it is practice, regular season matches, or playoff games.”
Lightning veteran Steve Stamkos expects the Panthers to become desperate .
“They are weren’t only going to roll over and die,” Stamkos said. “It is two really great hockey teams going at it.”
With the Labour’ Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche waiting in the next round, Vegas will try another time to eliminate the Wild following a 4-2 loss in Game 5 despite a 40-14 shot advantage.
The road team is 4-1 in this series.
“I just think it’s situational. Certainly they’re a great here. We are a good team . But both can play in another building. We have talked all the time: Doesn’t matter who, where, once. We are going to play hard,” Wild coach Dean Evason explained.
The Golden Knights, who are still missing star Max Pacioretty with an undisclosed injury, enjoyed the way they played Monday.
“I think if we come with the same effort we’re likely to get a different outcome. But we can not be down 3-1 after the first phase. It eventually cost us,” captain Mark Stone explained.
NOTES: The NHL fined defenseman Ryan McDonagh and forwards Pat Maroon of the Lightning. McDonagh was docked $5,000 to get cross-checking Mason Marchment on Monday night, while Maroon will pay $3,879 for unsportsmanlike conduct at the end of the game.
