Kyle Palmieri's second goal of the game 16:30 into overtime lifted the New York Islanders to a 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 1 of their first-round series on Sunday.
Palmieri collected a pass from Jean-Gabriel Pageau near the goal line and lifted it over Tristan Jarry and into the net as New York beat the Penguins for the first time in five tries at PPG Paints Arena this season.
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Kyle Palmieri's second goal of the game 16:30 into overtime lifted the New York Islanders to a 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 1 of their first-round series on Sunday.
Game 2 is Tuesday night in Pittsburgh.
The 25-year-old Russian appeared a little shaky early. While Palmieri gave the Islanders the early lead with a wrist shot from the right circle that Jarry couldn't snag,
The goal — which moved Crosby into a tie with Hall of Famer Brett Hull for seventh on the NHL's career postseason scoring list — gave the Penguins a 2-1 lead 3:47 into the second. Sorokin responded by settling in and giving his teammates time to collect themselves.
The teams traded chances for most of overtime until Palmieri found room down low to end the longest-ever playoff game between the two teams.
New York Islanders' Leo Komarov (47) leaps but can't get out of the way of a shot in front of Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry during the third period in Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Pittsburgh, Sunday, May 16, 2021. (AP PhotoGene J. Puskar)
Pittsburgh Penguins' Brandon Tanev, left, checks New York Islanders' Noah Dobson off his skates during the first period in Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Pittsburgh, Sunday, May 16, 2021. (AP PhotoGene J. Puskar)
Pageau and Brock Nelson also scored for the Islanders. Rookie goaltender Ilya Sorokin made 39 saves in his playoff debut and New York handed Pittsburgh its 10th playoff loss in the franchise's past 11 postseason games.
New York Islanders' Brock Nelson (29) celebrates after scoring during the third period in Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, Sunday, May 16, 2021. The Islander won in overtime 4-3. (AP PhotoGene J. Puskar)
Game 2 is Tuesday night in Pittsburgh.
Sidney Crosby, Frederick Gaudreau and Kasperi Kapanen scored for the Penguins, but the East Division champions couldn't capitalize despite controlling play for most of the first two periods. Jarry finished with 37 saves but had issues with his glove side. All four of New York goals sailed over, around or seemingly through Jarry's left arm.
The Islanders came in on their heels after finishing the regular season in a 6-6-3 funk, with none of the victories coming against playoff qualifiers. They appeared to have the advantage in net until veteran Semyon Varlamov was scratched, making Sorokin just the second rookie goaltender in Islanders' history to start the opening game of the postseason.
Pittsburgh Penguins' Frederick Gaudreau (11) celebrates his goal with Cody Ceci, left, and Jason Zucker during the first period of Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the New York Islanders in Pittsburgh, Sunday, May 16, 2021. (AP PhotoGene J. Puskar)
The 25-year-old Russian appeared a little shaky early. While Palmieri gave the Islanders the early lead with a wrist shot from the right circle that Jarry couldn't snag,
Gaudreau tied it 11:10 into the first when he collected a rebound off his own shot and ripped it by Sorokin.
Crosby then picked up his 69th career playoff goal — and 190th career postseason point — with a sublime deflection in which he fended off New York defenseman Andy Greene and redirected the puck with just the tip of his stick.
Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby, center, cannot get his stick on the puck in front of New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokinin, right, with Islanders' Ryan Pulock (6) defending during the first period of Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Pittsburgh, Sunday, May 16, 2021. (AP PhotoGene J. Puskar)
The goal — which moved Crosby into a tie with Hall of Famer Brett Hull for seventh on the NHL's career postseason scoring list — gave the Penguins a 2-1 lead 3:47 into the second. Sorokin responded by settling in and giving his teammates time to collect themselves.
New York eventually found its footing, playing the heavy, thudding game favored by head coach Barry Trotz. The Islanders pinned the Penguins down in their own end and kept firing away at Jarry. Pageau's wrist shot from the left circle zipped over Jarry's glove 3:33 into the third to tie it and when Nelson fluttered the puck by Jarry, the Islanders appeared ready to steal the series opener.
Kapanen, however, responded less than a minute later. His fifth career playoff goal with 3:39 remaining shook the Penguins out of their doldrums and forced the extra period.
Pittsburgh Penguins' Frederick Gaudreau (11) puts a shot over New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (30) for a goal during the first period of Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Pittsburgh, Sunday, May 16, 2021. (AP PhotoGene J. Puskar)
The teams traded chances for most of overtime until Palmieri found room down low to end the longest-ever playoff game between the two teams.
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New York Islanders' Kyle Palmieri (21) celebrates with Jean-Gabriel Pageau (44) after scoring during the first period in Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, Sunday, May 16, 2021. (AP PhotoGene J. Puskar)
New York Islanders' Leo Komarov (47) leaps but can't get out of the way of a shot in front of Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry during the third period in Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Pittsburgh, Sunday, May 16, 2021. (AP PhotoGene J. Puskar)
Pittsburgh Penguins' Brandon Tanev, left, checks New York Islanders' Noah Dobson off his skates during the first period in Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Pittsburgh, Sunday, May 16, 2021. (AP PhotoGene J. Puskar)