NYHN: Islanders Take Pivotal Game 4 on Home Ice & More

Backed by strong goaltending, the Islanders defeated the Penguins 4-1 in what was a “must-win” Game 4. It was an Islander type of win if you ask head coach Barry Trotz. Former Islander forward Matt Moulson was in attendance and the crowd was rather thrilled. These stories and more in today’s daily links!

When the New York Islanders needed to most, they stepped up. The Islanders’ offensive exploded for four goals and Ilya Sorokin made 29 saves in a 4-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 4 at the Nassau Coliseum. The effort was the best the Islanders have had in the series and sends it back to Pittsburgh even at 2-2. (NYI Hockey Now)

When Barry Trotz called Saturday’s Game 4 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins a “(New York) Islanders type of victory” he wasn’t wrong. The Islanders’ physical style of play frustrated Pittsburgh and helped them to the win. Here are the takeaways. (NYI Hockey Now)

New York’s newest sports star Zach Wilson was on hand for Game 4 between the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins, but on the Nassau Coliseum concourse on Saturday afternoon it was former Islanders forward Matt Moulson that everyone was lining up to see. (NYI Hockey Now)

Islanders veteran netminder Semyon Varlamov waited at the end of the celebration line as, one-by-one, the Islanders congratulated rookie goalie Ilya Sorokin after the final buzzer. Finally, it was Varlamov’s turn. He threw up his arms and the two Russians shared a lingering victory hug before joining their teammates at center ice to salute a giddy Nassau Coliseum sellout crowd of 6,800. (Newsday)

It shouldn’t have been a surprise after the way Game 3 went for the Islanders and Semyon Varlamov, to see Ilya Sorokin leading the Islanders onto the ice for warmups before Game 4 Saturday at the Nassau Coliseum. And when Sorokin calmly and securely handled the first shot of the game from Pittsburgh’s Kasperi Kapanen a minute in, it was pretty evident this game would play out a little differently than Tuesday’s and Thursday’s, when Varlamov allowed questionable goals early in the first period and the Isles went on to lose both. (Newsday)

Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby thought more could have been done by the Pittsburgh Penguins in a 4-1 loss to the New York Islanders in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup First Round at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York, on Saturday. Malkin recorded zero shots on goal while Crosby has not registered a point in the last three games. (NHL)

This was Islanders hockey all the way through. From a low-event first period that didn’t see much excitement either way to a couple of opportunistic second-period goals to the 4-1 final that evened the series with the Penguins at 2-2, the Islanders had the most dominating game either team has had in the series so far. Let’s discuss. (The Athletic)

Sometimes, it seems Evgeni Malkin has two roles within the Pittsburgh Penguins universe. There are days when the galloping Russian center reminds everyone that he is a former Calder Trophy winner, a Conn Smythe winner, and one of the best of his generation, Russian or otherwise. But now and again, Evgeni Malkin can send Penguins fans running to the liquor cabinet with head-scratching mistakes, bad penalties, or both. (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy confirmed Saturday that defenseman Kevan Miller will not play in the potential series-clinching Game 5 against the Washington Capitals Sunday in Washington DC. (Boston Hockey Now)

Travis Sanheim couldn’t find his game at times this season for the Flyers. His lowlight of the season was the minus-six game against the Rangers, and he had more downs than ups throughout the year. Sanheim, 25, now has three-plus NHL seasons under his belt. He’s entering what should be his prime in the coming years with the Flyers. However, it didn’t look that way this season. (Philly Hockey Now)

A few minutes on the phone with Paula Newhook, and you quickly get a good idea of where her son, Alex, gets a lot of his energy and enthusiasm from. The mom of Colorado Avalanche rookie Alex Newhook has run the Boston Marathon three times and has worked as a personal trainer. She speaks in a rapid-fire fashion, with verve and vigor. This, despite having stayed up until 3 or 4 in the morning Saturday, watching an Avs-Blues Game 3 that started at 11:30 Newfoundland time. (Colorado Hockey Now)

The Vegas Golden Knights were without Max Paccioretty in Game 4 against the Minnesota Wild. But players stepped up in the 4-0 win, as Vegas took a commanding 3-1 series lead. (Vegas Hockey Now)

Josef Korenar held up his end, but the rest of the San Jose Barracuda didn’t in a 4-1 Game One loss to Henderson last night. (San Jose Hockey Now)

Auston Matthews had a goal and two assists, and the Toronto Maple Leafs evened the Stanley Cup First Round by defeating the Montreal Canadiens 5-1 in Game 2 at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday. (NHL)

Nikita Kucherov had a goal and three assists before leaving with an injury, and the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Florida Panthers 6-2 in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup First Round at Amalie Arena on Saturday. (NHL)

John Tavares will need at least two weeks to recover from a knee injury, in addition to the concussion the forward sustained in the first period of Game 1 of the Stanley Cup First Round for the Toronto Maple Leafs against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday. (NHL)