PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – A day after losing 6-3 to the Islanders, a completely different performance, at least for 50 minutes, and different result as the Pens beat the Islanders 3-2 Sunday.
“It was a really good response to the game we played last night,” said Pens head coach Mike Sullivan. “We certainly weren’t happy with out we came out of the break and the type of game we put on the ice last night.”
“We did a lot of good things coming off a game we weren’t really happy with,” said captain Sidney Crosby. “Back-to-back, short rest for both teams, it was a gutsy win. Everybody chipped in different ways. That’s what you got to do to win consistently.”
It was Crosby’s night, his assist on a power play goal to Michael Bunting to make it 2-0 set the new Pens all-time assists record with 1,034. Earlier it was Bunting with the pretty assist to Anthony Beauvillier to beat Isles goalie Marcus Hogberg. After it was a Philip Tomasino power play goal as his shot bounced off an Islander and into the New York net to make it 3-0.
Goalie Alex Nedeljkovic was going for his first shutout since November 19, 2023 when he made 38 saves against Las Vegas. He made a couple of solid stops including a huge glove save late in the second with the Islanders on the power play. Anders Lee put one by him at 12:59 of the third period and scored again at 16:10.
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Playoff spot
As of the end of the game Sunday, the Pens were in the eighth and final playoff spot. Sure it’s only the end of December, but considering how this team had buried itself, it’s noteworthy.
“It’s important, I think in a way the way we’ve played in the last month or so, given ourselves an opportunity to get back in the mix here,” Crosby said. “We are competing with a lot of teams. We know we have our work cut out for us, but this is hopefully a position we are in the rest of the year, competing for. To be back in that spot, compared to where we were a month ago is important.”
Letang hurt
Defenseman Kris Letang was a scratch due to a lower-body injury suffered on Saturday and Sullivan said he would have an update on Monday as to a potential timeline for how much time he will miss. The 37-year-old has seven goals and nine assists in 34 games. Bryan Rust wore the ‘A’ as the alternate captain Sunday.