The Pittsburgh Penguins (28-30-10) had a good thing going until it all came crashing down in 20 minutes during the third period of their 4-2 loss to the New York Islanders on Tuesday night at PPG Paints Arena.
Despite giving their fanbase some hope all week with a sliver of hope to qualify for the playoffs, losing to the Islanders in such dramatic fashion all but snuffs out that smoldering fire.
Let's discuss another Penguins setback.
The Honeymoon is Over
Tristan Jarry has not looked better in the past four games, playing arguably his best hockey of the 2024-25 season. However, a very sloppy third period will likely lead to Alex Nedeljkovic getting the nod against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday night.
NHL Highlights | Islanders vs. Penguins | March 18, 2025Watch full game NHL highlights from the matchup between the New York Islanders and the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 18, 2025, condensing all the action into ...Whether it was a rebound, an undefended player, or something else, Jarry looked like the Jarry of old in the third. He got beat by a wrist shot, kicked out a rebound for a game-tying goal, and gave up a goal on the first shot of a period with a bounce off his back.
His inability to make a save at the start of the period led to a sequence of events that cost the Penguins their lead and ultimately cost them the game. The four-game win streak was fun while it lasted, but Pittsburgh showed their true colors on Tuesday.
Crosby Continues His Quest
Sidney Crosby scored a first-period goal to run his season total up to 74 points, putting him within six of 80, which would give him a point-per-game average this season, breaking Wayne Gretzky's record of 19 years.
The legend continues 💪
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) March 19, 2025
Sidney Crosby surpasses Wayne Gretzky for the fourth-most points with a single franchise in NHL history with 1,670. pic.twitter.com/tI7fi2AJsf
Without much to play for down the stretch, watching the captain continue to climb the NHL leaderboards is one season to tune in. He may miss Mario Lemieux's franchise record before the end of the season; every point he collects now only helps his quest next season.
After scoring his 616th goal on Tuesday, Crosby is only nine lamplighters away from catching Joe Sakic on the all-time list for most goals with a single franchise. Considering he's got 12 games left, never say never.
Mistakes Glore
The Islanders scored the game-winning goal on a breakaway, which only took place because Kris Letang opted to play a puck with his stick instead of his stick. Meanwhile, earlier in the period, Matt Grzelcyk sent a backhand pass behind the net, hoping to connect with Erik Karlsson, who was nowhere in the area.
PIERRE ENGVALL! 🚨 #Isles | @fordpic.twitter.com/lKHxmI3GwC
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) March 19, 2025
Thankfully, the Islanders didn't score, but they had a good chance. They dominated the third period, outshooting the Penguins 13-5. Once the first goal went in, the home team couldn't make good passes, get quality shots on goal, and disrupt New York's momentum.
Just like Jarry for 40 minutes, the Penguins hit all the right notes and got by, but once that first goal went in, everything unraveled, and by the final buzzer, the home team looked like a shell of themselves through the first two periods.