Isles win thriller!
Beat Pens in OT to take 1-0 series lead
Josh Bailey didn’t have much time to think when he saw the puck on the side of the crease after Mathew Barzal’s try hit the left post in overtime. Bailey just swooped in and knocked it into the net to send the Islanders to a 4-3 Game One victory over the Penguins.
“It just happened so quick,” Bailey said. “I wasn’t sure. It didn’t lay very flat for me. I was just trying to whack it and hope it went in. A crucial game. There’s still a long way to go, but a good win for us.” Barzal had brought the puck into the offensive zone on a 2-on-1 break, faked in front to draw Matt Murray out and sent the backhand shot that bounced off the left post. He was initially upset with himself at missing the opportunity before he saw Bailey come up and put it in.
“I see the puck laying there and I was just obviously (angry), I thought the chance had ended,” Barzal said. “And I see Bails come in and swoop in and bury it. I was obviously super happy to see that. Awesome for him. First game and that’s nice for the confidence.”
Jordan Eberle notched a goal and an assist, and Brock Nelson and Nick Leddy also scored for the Islanders, who were opening a postseason series at Nassau Coliseum for the first time in 31 years. Robin Lehner stopped 41 shots. Game 2 is Friday night. Phil Kessel and Evgeni Malkin each picked up a goal and an assist, and Justin Schultz also scored for the Penguins. Murray finished with 29 saves.
“It was a hard-fought game,” Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. “It wasn’t perfect out there by any stretch, but I thought we played hard.”
Tom Kuhnhackl, who saw a goal in the opening minute of the game waved off for offside, nearly won it for the Islanders 1:12 into the extra period as he crashed into Murray and the puck crossed the goal line — but not before the net came loose. The no-goal was confirmed after a review.
The Islanders led three times in regulation with the Penguins managing to tie it each time.
“We just stayed to it,” Islanders coach Barry Trotz said. “I liked our composure on the bench. There were a lot of twists and turns to that game. (We) didn’t flinch at all.”