Getty Images/Kathy Willens

They gave it everything they had. But the Islanders couldn’t quite put the Penguins away in Game Six- losing a heartbreaking game 4-3 to the East’s top seed at a packed Nassau Coliseum. It was an unlikely candidate who rescued the Pens. Brooks Orpik scored at 7:49 of the first overtime to help them advance to a second round meeting against Ottawa. The rugged defenseman took a Tyler Kennedy feed and beat Evgeni Nabokov for his first. Evgeni Malkin added the other assist.

It was a similar play by Malkin that allowed the Pens to force OT. He sent a backhand pass out to Paul Martin at the left point. Martin’s try deflected in off Isles’ forward Frans Nielsen‘s stick tying it with 5:16 left in regulation. Pittsburgh rallied from three one-goal deficits to finally prevail over a pesky eighth seeded Islanders who never went away. It was earned. Not given to them like so many prognosticators expected.

If not for coach Dan Bylsma changing goalies to vet backup Tomas Vokoun, the gritty underdogs from Long Island might have prevailed. Vokoun provided the spark the Pens lacked in net, coming up with big saves. After blanking the Isles in Game Five, he stopped 35 shots in Game Six. Many were clutch with a more determined Islanders forcing him to come up with tougher stops than Thursday night. Indeed, the 36-year old Czech delivered for the Pens, which is why they acquired him last off-season. That included 16 saves in a critical second despite his team being severely outplayed. Pittsburgh was out-shot 16-6 but got the lone goal from Pascal Dupuis.

The Islanders went down fighting. MVP candidate John Tavares scored 5:36 into the contest. He finished off a Josh Bailey feed for his third. All three of his goals came on home ice in Games 3-4 and 6. Defenseman Matt Carkner picked up the secondary assist. As they had all series, the Penguins responded quickly when just over two minutes later, Jarome Iginla finished off his second in front. Sidney Crosby was allowed to drive to the net and get a tough backhand which Evgeni Nabokov got a piece of. Nobody picked up Iginla, who tied the game 2:03 later.

Undeterred, the Isles controlled most of the first period. A late one from Colin McDonald with 47 seconds remaining steered them back ahead 2-1. A Michael Grabner check on Martin behind the net forced him to turn over the puck. Grabner freed it up to Keith Aucoin, who passed for McDonald at the side. McDonald flipped his second upstairs.

They had plenty of opportunities to increase their lead. The Pens took three penalties in the second. All three were undisciplined including Brenden Morrow boarding Radek Martinek in the offensive zone. On the ensuing power play, Matt Moulson blew a wide open chance in front off a Tavares set up. He had half the net to shoot at and missed wide. It was a crucial turning point. Following an easy kill of a Martinek crosscheck, the Isles let up emotionally. They fell asleep on Dupuis’ fifth. Joe Vitale cruised down the right side and passed between two Islanders for Dupuis, who deflected home the only goal of the period at 10:59. Travis Hamonic failed to pick him up.

With the game knotted, the Islanders again retook the lead. This time, Grabner was the beneficiary of more hustle. Vokoun misplayed a puck to defenseman Kris Letang, who gave it away with McDonald closing fast. It came right to Aucoin, who faked and dished across for an easy Grabner put away that put them back in front 3-2 with 17:39 left in regulation.

The Isles continued to dictate play, limiting the Pens chances by clogging up the neutral zone and standing up at their blueline. The defensive strategy was working until Malkin finally remembered there was a game. Up till that point, his line was a combined minus-six. On a previous shift, he sent a Matt Cooke pass wide. Off a turnover in the neutral zone, he glided behind the Islander net before sending a backhand saucer pass for Martin, whose one-time blast took an unlucky bounce past Nabokov at 14:44. Unfortunately, Martin’s shot deflected off Nielsen past his own netminder.

After 60 minutes, nothing was decided. It guaranteed that someone would score at least four goals for the fifth time in the series. Both teams went for it in sudden death. Moulson missed on another opportunity firing wide. There were a couple of close calls for the Pens where the Isles had loose pucks in the slot but couldn’t bury one past Vokoun. It was a game of missed opportunities. When Pittsburgh finally settled down, their experience paid off. A hustle play from Kennedy behind the net allowed him to move the puck to Orpik at the left point. He let go of a shot that deflected past Nabokov inside the crossbar for the series clincher.

Following his goal that allowed teammates to congratulate him and breathe a sigh of relief, Islander fans saluted their team one more time chanting, “Let’s Go Islanders, Let’s Go Islanders, Let’s Go Islanders!” It was one of those cool playoff moments you get at this special time of year. Their team hadn’t been here in six years. After the traditional handshake that sets hockey apart from other major sports, the Islanders stayed on the ice and saluted the crowd to cheers. Even if they are a blood rival whose fans can get under our skin, you have to respect how the team played. With passion and resiliency. Make no mistake. They’ll be back.

NY Puck 3 Stars:

3rd Star-John Tavares, NYI (3rd of series, 3 SOG, 16-8 on draws, -1 in 23:51-played well matched up against Crosby)
2nd Star-Tomas Vokoun, Pit (35 saves incl. all 16 in busy 2nd-he saved them)
1st Star-Brooks Orpik, Pit (scored OT winner to clinch series at 7:49, 5 hits, +2 in 27:17)

Notes: Islanders out-shot Penguins 38-21 including 3-2 in OT. … Despite giving up four goals or more for the third consecutive time, Nabokov couldn’t really be faulted. The first two Pens’ goals came on blown assignments and the final two, one was a deflection off his own player and the other he didn’t see. … Faceoffs: NYI 44 Pit 29. Tavares dominated winning 16 of 24 draws and Kyle Okposo went 6 and 2. Casey Cizikas won 7 of 10. For the Pens, Crosby was 12 of 25 and Vitale 5 and 5. … Hits: NYI 31 Pit 23. Matt Martin paced everyone with 11 followed by McDonald’s 6. Cooke and Orpik shared the team lead with 5. … Blocked Shots: NYI 23 Pit 18. Paul Martin had 5 blocks and Lubomir Visnovsky had 4.

… Former Islanders’ 2nd round pick Brock Nelson made his NHL debut taking 12 shifts. In 7:44 of ice-time, he finished minus-one with a hit and takeaway. … Aucoin finished with two assists. It was his first two assist game of the year. … Grabner had a goal and assist. … Carkner returned to the lineup and had a helper with a hit and three blocks in 20:43. … Paul Martin had a goal and helper for the Pens and Malkin added two helpers. … Iginla and Crosby each had nine points while Malkin led all scorers with 11 (2-9-11). He recorded a point in all six games.