When the Stanley Cup playoffs roll around, every team wants it. Every team needs it. "Puck luck," they call it in hockey circles. The Islanders didn't have much of it in game one of their series against the Pittsburgh Penguins, but outlasted the Penguins, the ice, the posts and the officials in a stirring 4-3 overtime victory that mirrored their 2018-19 season. They put on their boots and simply went to work.
"I liked their composure on the bench, we stayed with it. They didn't flinch at all." said Barry Trotz in his postgame press conference.
The Penguins, up and down the lineup, have the better talent. They have a 24-year-old goaltender who has already won two Stanley Cups. They have arguably, the best player on the planet in Sidney Crosby. And when you hold Crosby to no points and two shots in almost 23 minutes of ice time, you best win that hockey game. They did.
The 'best fourth line in hockey' continues to have a mystifying year. A year in which they have become a symbol of 'Islanders hockey.' The newly discovered offensive pressure they have been creating throughout the season continued into game one, as they were the most dominant line on either team.
New York never trailed in this one, despite being out-attempted 83-62 and outshot 44-33. They held the Penguins to 16 high danger chances compared to 19 of their own despite playing against the officials for the better part of the final 35 minutes. I don't like to complain about officials much, as I feel their job is extremely difficult given the raw speed of the game, but tonight was abysmal on their part. On one particularly troubling sequence in the third period, they missed two clear trips by Evgeni Malkin and called Anders Lee for boarding while the Islanders captain was on two knees sliding himself towards the boards after getting tangled up with Erik Gudbranson.
The Islanders were not sidetracked by the late tying goal off a slapper by Justin Schultz, nor when Josh Bailey tinged the post with five seconds left in the third period. They simply regrouped … went back to work and picked up a huge game one win.
What went right:
Robin Lehner was outstanding, making 41 saves and keeping the Islanders from ever trailing with some remarkable stops, especially on snipers Phil Kessel and Malkin.
Tom Kuhnhackl played in place of Michael Dal Colle on the second line with Brock Nelson and Bailey to the surprise of many, including yours truly. But, he showed his worth and playoff experience in a solid 17:42.
It won't show up in the fancy stats, but Devon Toews did not look shy, did he? Rising up in a huge spot, he was steady and led much transition out of the defensive zone with poise.
Mathew Barzal dazzled at times, always a threat in the offensive zone and put on a show in overtime, cutting inside and backhanding off the post, leading to Bailey's winner on the rebound.
What needs to improve:
I mentioned being concerned about Scott Mayfield in my series preview, and he struggled tonight with the speed and forecheck pressure of the Penguins. Maybe with game one out of the way, he improves the rest of the series. Trotz needs him to. The alternative is a rusty Thomas Hickey.
Clearances, clearances, clearances. The Islanders, when pressured in the defensive zone, again had trouble clearing their zone, leading to a tired unit being left out for extended shifts. Never a good idea with the offensive weapons lined up on the other side.
Neutral zone play. The Islanders allowed too much room in the middle of the ice in transition and Pittsburgh did attack with speed many times. Over the course of a potential seven-game series, they need to slow the game down. Playing pond hockey with this opponent is not a good formula for success.
Game two: Friday, April 12, 7:30pm ET, Nassau Coliseum (Islanders lead series 1-0)
