Islanders Back in a Playoff Spot After Wild 5-4 Win Over Penguins

ELMONT, NY — The New York Islanders woke up thirty minutes into their game against the Pittsburgh Penguins but found a way as they came back to win 5-4.

The Islanders are now 28-23-7 and hold onto the second wild-card spot. They are tied with the Penguins in points, who have played four fewer games. They take a one-point lead over the Washington Capitals, who have played one fewer game.

LINES

Anders Lee-Bo Horvat-Mathew Barzal
Zach Parise-Brock Nelson-Kyle Palmieri
Josh Bailey-Casey Cizikas-Simon Holmstrom
Matt Martin- Andy Andreoff-Hudson Fasching

Adam Pelech-Ryan Pulock
Alexander Romanov-Scott Mayfield
Sebastian Aho-Noah Dobson

Ilya Sorokin
Semyon Varlamov

GOALS

Sidney Crosby hopped on a loose puck to give the Pittsburgh Penguins a 1-0 lead at 12:00 of the first period. P.O. Joseph and Chad Ruhwedel were credited with the assists on Crosby’s 25th goal of the season.

Anders Lee tied the contest at one as, after being denied by Casey DeSmith, he wacked a puck off DeSmith’s crotch area for his 20th of the season. Mathew Barzal was credited with the assist.

Rickard Rakell redirected a Jake Guentzel pass at 3:53 of the second period to give the Penguins a 2-1 lead. Kris Letang was credited with the secondary assist.

Jason Zucker made it 3-1 Penguins as he deflected a Joseph point shot for his 14th of the season at 5:35 of the second. Ruhwedel was credited with the secondary assist.

Brock Nelson made it a 3-2 game as he banged one off DeSmith and in on a wraparound attempt for his 23rd of the season at 14:25 of the second. Scott Mayfield and Alexander Romanov were credited with the assists.

Rakell scored his second of the game as he tapped home a Crosby feed at 18:57 of the second to give the Penguins a 4-2 lead. Marcus Pettersson was credited with the secondary assist on Rakell’s 21st of the season.

Lee scored his second of the game as he deflected a Barzal shot for his 21st of the season with 28 seconds to play in the second. Sebastian Aho was credited with the secondary assist.

Nelson scored his second of the game on the power play to tie the contest at four at 5:01 of the third period. Noah Dobson and Lee were credited with the assists on Nelson’s 24th of the season.

Zach Parise gave the Islanders a 5-4 lead with 2:43 to play in the third in career game no. 1200 as he got a piece of a Nelson pass for his 15th of the season. Aho with two secondary assists.

Nelson Extends Point Streak to 12 Games With 3-Point Effort

With the New York Islanders desperately in need of a goal, Brock Nelson sparked his group with under six minutes to play in the second.

As he came down the left boards, he caught DeSmtih being a little too aggressive in his crease and saw the opportunity to go for the wraparound. DeSmith got back in time, but the puck deflected off his pad and in.

Brock Nelson with the lost art of the wrap around! Brock with a 12 game point streak gets the #Isles back within a goal.@brendanmburke pic.twitter.com/iUG8RDp4kS

— Isles on MSGSN (@IslesMSGN) February 18, 2023

With that goal, Nelson extended his point streak to 12 games with eight goals and six assists.

He added another goal as he rifled one home on the power play to tie the game at four.

Islanders Shaky Start

The New York Islanders were dominated out of the gate by the Penguins. Despite being outshot 18-8 after one, the score was knotted at one.

But then the floodgates opened in the second as 12 of the first 13 shots of the frame through eight minutes played in the second went to the Penguins, which included two goals.

But after Nelson scored to make it a 3-2 game, the Islanders woke up.

Despite allowing another goal, the scored was 4-3 after two.

They scored three unanswered in the third to win 5-4, taking the lead with 2:43 to play.

Lee Links Up with Barzal, Scores 2

In Anders Lee’s first game back with Mat Barzal in quite some time, they made magic as the captain scored two goals in the game.

His first was one out of Happy Gilmore, as he teed the puck off DeSmith’s crotch area to tie the contest and one.

WATCH: Anders Lee Tees Off For Wacky Goal Against Penguins

With the Islanders seemed to be heading to the third period trailing two goals, Lee came through yet again, deflecting a Barzal shot with 28 seconds to play in the frame.

#Isles keep battling and Lee nets his 2nd of the game off a tip of Barzal's shot pic.twitter.com/dTcErZjIEK

— Isles on MSGSN (@IslesMSGN) February 18, 2023

Heading into the game, Lee had gone five games without a goal, and the Islanders will need him to be an offensive force if they are going to make the postseason.

Next up: The New York Islanders face the Boston Bruins in Boston on Friday at UBS Arena, with puck drop set for 5 PM ET.