By Pat Pickens
The New York Islanders gave the heavily favoured Pittsburgh Penguins all they could handle in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.
Still, thanks to a couple of unlikely sources, Pittsburgh is moving on.
Tomas Vokoun stopped 35 shots and Brooks Orpik’s goal at 7:49 of the first overtime lifted the top-seeded Penguins to a 4-3 win over the eighth-seeded Islanders in Game 6 Saturday night at the Nassau Coliseum.
Pittsburgh overcame three deficits to claim the best-of-seven series 4-2 and the Penguins advance to meet the Ottawa Senators in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
WAKEUP CALL
Playing with the chance to close out the Islanders, the Penguins played perhaps their worst first 45 minutes of the series.
The Islanders dictated the game’s pace, outshooting Pittsburgh 28-13 through two periods. The Penguins were sloppy in their own end, and the Isles’ third line forced two end-zone turnovers that led to goals. Michael Grabner’s goal at 2:21 of the third broke a 2-2 tie, and the Islanders held that lead until late in the third.
Vokoun, playing in his second straight game, was among the shaky Pens. Though he stopped 26 of 28 shots through 40 minutes, twice Vokoun received a reprieve from the officials with quick whistles, and his bobble led to a giveaway that resulted in Grabner’s goal.
Still, Vokoun did stop 35 shots and gave Pittsburgh the chance to make its comeback. Just seconds before Paul Martin’s game-tying goal, Vokoun shrugged aside Keith Aucoin’s slapper on a two-on-one break.
“[Vokoun] stayed very strong,” Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma said. “In the third period when we were trying to push and activating our defence, we gave up a few really good scoring chances, which he made two really gigantic saves for us. I think they were huge saves for us.”
Martin’s goal, just seconds after that stop, seemed to ignite the Pens, and they carried the play in overtime. Vokoun also stopped three shots in overtime, making his best stop in the extra session on Matt Martin’s backhand shot.
SUPERSTAR WATCH
For about 55 minutes, Evgeni Malkin played his worst game of the series.
But in the game’s final 13 minutes, the big Russian centre made his impact felt.
Malkin finished with two assists, including the primary on Martin’s game-tying goal at 14:44 of the third. With the Penguins changing behind him, Malkin took on New York’s defence one-on-four, going wide and holding off Matt Carkner before feeding Martin at the point.
Martin’s shot deflected off Islanders’ centre Frans Nielsen past Evgeni Nabokov’s glove, tying the score at 3.
“I felt really fortunate to get that goal to tie it up,” Bylsma said.
Malkin also made an outstanding play on Orpik’s game-winning goal. Islanders’ defenceman Mark Streit’s clearing attempt hit Malkin’s skate, and he kicked the puck deep below the goal line. Malkin and Tyler Kennedy played catch, then Kennedy pushed the puck to Orpik, who beat Nabokov short side off the post at 7:49.
“I wish I could say I was trying to go there,” Orpik said. “I just tried to put it on net, and I found a hole there.”
Malkin, Jarome Iginla and Pascal Dupuis each recorded points and each scored in every game this series. Sidney Crosby also had the primary assist on Iginla’s first-period goal, finishing with nine points in five games.
Crosby sped through the neutral zone and was stopped with a lunging save by Nabokov, then Iginla found the rebound and slid it under New York’s goalie, tying the score at one.
On New York’s side, John Tavares potted New York’s first goal. Top-line forward Josh Bailey was New York’s best player, earning the primary assist on Tavares’ goal and leading the Isles with six shots through regulation.
Still, the Islanders’ other scoring stars were silent again in Game 6. Matt Moulson and Brad Boyes each had glorious second-period opportunities but could not beat Vokoun. Despite five shots, Moulson finished pointless for the third-straight game, and Boyes finished the series with only three points– three assists all in Game 4.
Pittsburgh’s superstars were simply better than New York’s all series long, and that’s why the Penguins are advancing. Among those was Nabokov. New York’s net minder allowed four or more goals five times in the series and only stopped 17 of 21 shots Saturday night.
SECOND GUESSING
Catapulted by McDonald’s goal in the first-period’s final minute, the Islanders came out flying at the start of the second.
New York recorded the period’s first nine shots and outshot Pittsburgh 16-6 in the second period, earning two power plays.
Still, New York could not cash in, and it was Pittsburgh that did. Dupuis’ goal at 10:59 from Joe Vitale and Matt Niskanen tied the game. Vitale gained the Islanders’ zone with speed, taking the puck wide on Brian Strait, then centered the puck to Dupuis, who shuffled the puck by Nabokov, tying the game at two.
CHECKING LINE MAGIC
New York’s best line was its third line of Keith Aucoin, Colin McDonald and Grabner.
The line combined for two of New York’s goals as Grabner and Aucoin each caused turnovers that led to goals. Grabner’s check on Martin freed the puck for Aucoin, who found McDonald wide open for New York’s second goal.
McDonald’s check on Letang also led to the Norris Trophy candidate’s giveaway, allowing Aucoin to dish the puck to Grabner for the third-period go-ahead goal.
Brock Nelson, playing his first-career playoff game, and Matt Martin each spirited New York’s effort as well. Martin led all players with 11 hits.
The Penguins all admitted they were impressed by the Islanders and wouldn’t be surprised to see New York somewhere years to come.
“They have speed, they’re a dangerous team. They gave us a lot to handle,” Bylsma said. “They came at us in a lot of different ways, and it was every bit of a battle through six games.”
UNSUNG HERO
Orpik, who did not score a goal all year and hadn’t scored in 77 previous playoff games, went from goat to hero in about 48 minutes..
Orpik was out of position on McDonald’s first-period goal. He was stuck below the goal line trying to check Aucoin and left McDonald all alone for the go-ahead goal at 19:23.
Still, Orpik, who missed the series’ first three games with an injury, finished plus-two. His slap shot from the point beat Nabokov short side, claiming the series and whipping the Pens bench into delirium.
“It doesn’t matter who scores,” Iginla told NHL Network. “We’re like little kids when those overtime goals are scored.”
Nabokov admitted he was screened on the game winner.
“I never want to use an excuse,” Nabokov said. “But I didn’t get a great look at it.”