N.Y. Islanders Complete Sweep of Penguins

From the desk of:  THE BARRY TROTZ PAJAMA PARTY

Long Island Crowd Deserves to Have Islanders 

Remaining Games Played at Uniondale Barn

NHL PLAYOFFS ~ ROUND ONE

ISLANDERS SWEEP PENGUINS

I - NYI 4; PITT 3*

II - NYI 3; PITT 1

III - NYI 4; PITT 1

IV - NYI 3; PITT 1

New York Islanders: The Wizard of Trotz Makes Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin Disappear.

Trailing the Islanders by a goal, the Penguins pulled Matt Murray in the waning minutes of regulation.  But even their best laid plans would be short lived.  Josh Bailey's empty netter with 37-seconds left effectively put the Penguins season to rest.

The joint was jumping very soon after the opening face-off.  Pittsburgh's PPG Watercolor Igloo Arena popped with Penguin mania when Jake Guentzel scored just 0:37 into the game.

Then ... a collective gasp, and deafening Steel City silence.

At the 2:09 mark, Jordan Eberle's fourth goal of the series tied the game, leaving the crowd fit to be tied.  If that weren't bad enough, the Penguins broke one of hockey's cardinal rules: never give up a goal in the last two minutes of a period.  Brock Nelson did just that, scoring his third goal of the playoffs at 18:06 of the first.

The Isles finished the game minus the services of blue liner Johnny Boychuck and winger Cal Clutterbuck.  Ideally speaking, eliminating the Penguins in quick fashion will allow them both time for recovering from bumps and bruises incurred during game four.

This season's stingiest defense allowed the Penguins just six goals through four games; none generated from the stick of Sidney Crosby.  The Penguins captain managed no shots on goal in game four, and was limited to a mere six shots on goal all series.  Josh Bailey and Jordan Eberle joined on seven shots on goal in game four alone.  Crosby's lone point came on an assist in Tuesday's finale.  Evgeni Malkin managed 11 shots on goal (2.7 shots per game) but just one goal and a pair of assists.

Jordan Eberle is skating like a man possessed, tallying four goals and two assists in four games against the Penguins.  Josh Bailey added another three goals.

Goalie Robin Lehner faced 136 shots on goal through four games, stopping 130 of them.  In game four, he faced 33 shots and stopped all but one.  He even engaged in some pushing and perhaps maybe threw a punch or two.

As reward for their series win, the NHL is evicting the Islanders from the Barn at Uniondale, and forcing their return to Brooklyn.  I've always believed the Islanders belong on Long Island.  And so I feel for their fans whom must now forgo tailgating, for sake of trekking back to Flatbush Avenue.  It's an injustice to say, well, it was good while it lasted.  Through the latter part of the season and every game since, Long Island poured their soul back into hometown hockey.

In the meantime, the New York Long Islanders of Brooklyn await the winner of the Washington Capitals/Carolina Hurricanes series.

No Sleep Till Belmont.