N.Y. Islanders: Penguins Wilt in Overtime Barn Burner

From the desk of:  Barry Trotz Pajama Party

2018~2019

STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

ROUND ONE

Pittsburgh Penguins (0-1)

vs.

New York Islanders (1-0)

New York Islanders Open Fast and Furious; Finish With a Flourish.

What a ridiculously entertaining game.  From start to finish, the old barn shook, rattled, and rolled to the beat of Long Island noise!

The Islanders crowd has been jacked throughout the night. Kudos to them. #NYI

— B'klynTrolleyBlogger (@BTB_MikeII) April 11, 2019

I tweeted the above comment just moments before Josh Bailey scored the game winning goal in overtime.

Fan took the party from the parking lot inside to their seats and raised the roof straight away.  An off-sides mitigated what could have been a goal within the opening ten seconds of the game.  Far from deflated, the Long Island crowd roared on and were rewarded post haste for their boisterous efforts by Jordan Eberle at the 1:40 mark, assisted by Anders Lee, and Adam Pelech.  But Pittsburgh withstood Long Island's bum rush, and had things normalized by 5:42 on Phil Kessel's neutralizing goal.  But that did little to quell the crowd.  At 15:49 of the first period the place popped when Brock Nelson's power play goal put the Islanders up by a goal.

If the second period proved anything, it is the Islanders should be fine if they play the Penguins at even strength.  But if they're going to be prone to mistakes, Pittsburgh will surely capitalize.  Just ask Ryan Pulock who was whistled for interference at the 12:30 mark.  Evgeni Malkin's PP goal at 13:41 tied the game at two.  The Penguins were 1 for 3 on the power play.

A raucous third period ensued.  Watching at home, the crowd oft times drowned out the broadcast.  The house went completely bonkers when Nick Leddy's shot from the point clanked off the left post and behind a dismayed Matt Murray giving the Isles a 3-2 lead with seven minutes left.  However, the Islanders would break one of hockey's cardinal rules by allowing a goal inside the last two minutes of a period.  The Penguins afforded themselves a man advantage when they pulled goalie Matt Murray, and sure enough at 18:31 Schultz shot from the left circle found net.

Overtime! 

But not for long, though.  At 4:39 of the fourth period, Josh Bailey brought down the house.