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| Matt Moulson watches Kyle Okposo’s shot ricochet off Marc-Andre Fleury. Getty Images/Gene J. Puskar |
It isn’t a series until someone wins on the road. For the upstart Islanders, they pushed back against the Penguins in Game Two. They dug out of a pair of two-goal deficits to pull out a 4-3 win that squared the First Round series 1-1.
Able to claw back despite the return of Pens’ captain Sidney Crosby, they showed plenty of playoff mettle for a team already written off by many observers. The start didn’t help. Evgeni Malkin scored 43 seconds in and Crosby finished off the first of two goals less than three minutes later to put the East’s top seed up 2-0.
With Console Energy Center in a frenzy, Pittsburgh scored the first seven goals of the series making one ponder if the Islanders would be swept unceremoniously. Instead, they fought back and sent a message. The Pens lost composure taking several unnecessary penalties. They were penalized three times in the first period, which slowly hinted at a turnaround. A cross checking minor on Deryk Engelland finally gave the Isles some life. Matt Moulson took advantage when his centering feed for Brad Boyes went off Paul Martin past Marc-Andre Fleury.
But before they could breathe easy, Crosby came right back 18 seconds later with his second of the period. Getting to a Pascal Dupuis rebound which Evgeni Nabokov let out, he sent the puck in to restore a two-goal Penguin lead. A smart play by a great player who twice eluded Islander checks to get free for both his tallies. Despite getting a lift from the best player in the game, the Pens got complacent. They allowed a more aggressive Islander team to fore check and test Fleury often. He stopped 19 of 20 shots to keep them ahead 3-1.
Islander defenseman Travis Hamonic got into it with Matt Cooke near the period’s conclusion. Hamonic received two for roughing while Cooke took a retaliatory slash that negated a Pens power play. It wasn’t the last time someone got under the skin of the Pens’ antagonist. Matt Martin later exchanged pleasantries. The Isles’ chippy play was a welcome change from a lackluster first game which Jack Capuano felt they could’ve been more physical. His club finished every check and made life more difficult on Pittsburgh.
”Our guys, they’re relentless,” explained the Islander coach.
If there was a turning point, it happened when Kyle Okposo challenged Matt Niskanen following a hit delivered on Moulson. He bloodied Niskanen, who also landed some good blows. Ironically, it was Okposo’s first career fight. He’d never fought in 319 regular season games but picked an opportune time to deliver a message. Right on cue, his teammates responded 14 seconds later when Colin McDonald banked one off Fleury. Keith Aucoin and David Ullstrom picked up assists.
”We’re in the series,” Okposo said after scoring what proved to be the winner with 7:37 left in regulation. ”We just wanted to come out and let them know that we’re not going away.”
“Kyle just stepped up for a teammate and anytime you see somebody do that this time of year, it goes a long way,” John Tavares praised following recording his first point (assist) of the series while registering six shots after being blanked in Game One. ”It just seemed to keep pushing our game to get better.”
Before they drew even, the Islanders had a crucial kill of a Lubomir Visnovsky boarding minor. A couple of minutes later, Jarome Iginla took an undisciplined penalty when he retaliated by boarding defenseman Brian Strait, who prior delivered a hit on Crosby. They didn’t score on the man-advantage but carried the momentum forward. A streaking Martin beat Kris Letang to a loose puck, chipping a backhand upstairs that knotted it 3-3 with 9:23 remaining in the second. Josh Bailey and Frans Nielsen tallied assists.
All tied up, the Islanders quieted a stunned crowd. They also got a better performance from Nabokov, who stopped the final 24 shots en route to his 40th career postseason win in his 80th appearance. He slammed the door shut, denying Crosby and Malkin repeatedly. They combined for 18 of the Pens’ 33 shots. That included a big glove save to deny Crosby.
A Tavares high-sticking double minor gave Pittsburgh a great opportunity to go back ahead. But the Isles killed it with a little help when Crosby hit the post. Tavares didn’t leave the box until 29 seconds elapsed in the third. With the game hanging in the balance, both teams played tighter checking. Nabokov went save for save with Fleury until an unlikely bounce went the Islanders’ way. Off some strong pressure, Okposo got to a Moulson pass in the slot and fired wide. But the lively back boards took a funny carom, allowing the puck to squeak in off Fleury’s pads.
The Islanders took away the neutral zone. They protected the lead with solid D that forced turnovers. A great shift with over a minute left pinned the Pens deep. Eventually, they got Fleury off for an extra attacker. But never came close to tying it.
NY Puck 3 Stars:
3rd Star-Matt Moulson, NYI (PPG, assist, 3 SOG, +1 in 14:01-always around net)
2nd Star-Kyle Okposo, NYI (1st of playoffs, GW-fight was turning point)
1st Star-Sidney Crosby, Pit (2 goals, 8 SOG in 23:21-showed no rust)
hasan4978
Derek
Battle Of Hudson 
I admit I did write them off after Game 1, it looked like it was going to be a '94 reprise for the Isles (where they got swept by the Rangers in four blowouts). I may even watch tomorrow afternoon, takes a lot to get me to watch a non-Devils game.
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I hope you didn't watch our pathetic display. The Islanders got more heart than us.
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