Cizikas, Islanders Beat Pittsburgh 6-3 In First Leg Of Back-To-Back Against Penguins

ELMONT, NY -- The New York Islanders knew they needed a bounce-back game after thier 7-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Monday night and that they did against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. 

After a strong start and three goals in a four-minute span in the second, the Islanders came away with a 6-3 victory. 

Here's how it happened: 

The Islanders needed to get off to a strong start after Monday's debacle. But just 56 seconds into the first, Maxim Tsyplakov tripped Kris Letang in the offensive zone, putting the Islanders' league-worst penalty kill on the spot early.

They rose to the challenge, allowing just one shot on goal, not one of high-danger variety. 

The Islanders believed they scored the first goal of the game after Brock Nelson sniped Tristan Jarry blocker side, but after a challenge for goalie interference, the goal came off the board. 

Despite that goal being waived off, the Islanders did score the first goal of the game when Jean-Gabriel Pageau buried an elite feed from Mathew Barzal at the blocker side post to give his team a 1-0 lead at 14:47 of the first:

But, 1:16 later, the Penguins came through on the power play as Michael Bunting sniped Sorokin blocker side to tie the game at 1-1 after the puck bounced into the low slot: 

Anthony Duclair, the Duke of New York, buried a one-time feed from Kyle Palmieri to give the Islanders a 2-1 lead at 5:39 of the second:

Anders Lee made it 3-1, but really, it was Kris Letang who put the puck into his own net after No. 27 rang the post:

After two offensive-zone penalties, head coach Patrick Roy elected to move Tsyplakov down to the fourth line, swapping him with Casey Cizikas.

No. 53 made the move count, giving the Islanders a 4-1 lead at 9:39 of the second after he brilliantly redirected an Alexander Romanov slap-pass over Jarry's glove:

The Islanders found themselves on the penalty kill yet again. Despite a "successful" kill, Noah Acciari scored seconds after to make it a 4-2 game at 13:49 of the second:

Then, Rickard Rakell scored with 2.7 seconds to play in the second to make it a 4-3 game: 

But the Islanders didn't let the game slip away.

Cizikas scored on the breakaway at 14:43 of the third period after Simon Holmstrom sprung him. Lee added an empty-net tally at 19:38 of the third to wrap this one up:

UP NEXT: The Islanders are now on their way to Pittsburgh to battle the Penguins at 5:30 PM ET on Sunday.