Six-Goal Period Powers Penguins Over Islanders
After a slow first period, the Pittsburgh Penguins put together a massive second frame to seal a big victory.
The Pittsburgh Penguins were back in action following a disappointing overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators and a holiday break to recoup and prepare for the next battle.
It wasn’t going to be a walk in the park for the Penguins either as they were taking on the New York Islanders for the first time this season.
After three straight starts from Alex Nedeljkovic, Tristan Jarry was put back as the starting netminder.
First Period
As both teams looked to get their feet under them after a few days off, the feeling out process between the Penguins and Islander lasted through the entire first period.
No goals were scored from either side despite the Penguins getting a pair of power play opportunities.
Through the first 20 minutes, the Penguins and Islanders combined for nine total shots; Penguins with five Islanders with four.
Second Period
Whatever slow play or feeling out process that occurred during the opening frame was definitely eliminated in the second period.
The Penguins went on a rampage and picked up six goals on 20 shots while keeping the Islanders out of the net completely.
After killing off a penalty of their own, the Penguins began their onslaught; Rickard Rakell followed up his first goal of the season in Ottawa by finding a loose puck before Ilya Sorokin.
Rakell’s second in as many games was following shortly by a pair of tallies from Jake Guentzel.
A wrist shot from the point was deflected by Guentzel for his 15th of the season and just 12 seconds later he was sprung on a breakaway for his 16th.
It didn’t take long for Evgeni Malkin to follow in Guentzel’s footsteps by picking up a pair of his own in quick succession.
His first goal came easy enough just beating Sorokin clean from the slot, then again on the door step on a feed from Letang.
Radim Zohorna even got in on the action with his first goal in 20 games assisted by Valtteri Puustinen and once again Letang.
It was the penguins sixth goal of the period, but Letang’s franchise record setting fifth assist of the 20 minutes.
Letang also became the first defenseman in NHL history to record five assists in a single period.
Third Period
Now protecting a six-goal lead, the Penguins looked to close out their first win over the Islanders since the 2021-22 season.
About halfway through the final period, Puustinen finally recorded his first goal in the NHL on an slap shot one-timer from none other than Letang.
It was Puustinen's first career goal and Letang's sixth assist of the game tying a franchise record for helpers in one game.
Up 7-0, the Penguins finally saw the close hit zeros sealing a huge two points over their Metropolitan Division rivals.
Lost in the chaos of the second period and an NHL first, Jarry recorded his league-leading fourth shutout of the season.
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