Penguins' winning streak snapped after they blew two-goal lead in loss to Islanders

Matt Vensel, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Mar 18, 2025

Published in Hockey

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PITTSBURGH — The Penguins picked a bad time to blow a two-goal lead for the first time in a while.

They were on their way to a fifth straight win Tuesday when they let the New York Islanders score four times in the third period and win, 4-2, at PPG Paints Arena.

The four-point swing in the standings may be a fatal blow for their playoffs hopes. The Islanders are one of the six teams the Penguins must pass in the wild-card race.

The Penguins entered the third period with a 2-0 lead. But the Islanders would tie up the score with two goals, both on odd-man rushes, in the first 5:34 of the frame.

The Islanders pulled within a goal with a Kyle Palmieri breakaway goal 17 seconds into the third. Kris Letang misplayed the puck at the point, leading to that chance.

Just over five minutes later, the Penguins let the Islanders skate in on a 4-on-2 rush. Tristan Jarry made the initial save but Noah Dobson was there to bury the rebound.

Tuesday was the first time they blew a two-goal lead since a Jan. 7 loss to Columbus.

The Islanders pulled ahead with a goal from Pierre Engvall with 6:52 left in the third. He outskated Ryan Graves to a loose puck then whipped the winner through Jarry.

The Islanders had the Penguins on their heels early, firing the first five shots of the game. But Pittsburgh took the lead when Joona Koppanen netted his first NHL goal.

The 27-year-old forward, who was making his season debut for the Penguins, beat Ilya Sorokin with a deflection after he battled Adam Pelech for position in the slot.

Koppanen joined the organization last season and got in four games for Pittsburgh. Until Tuesday, the big Finn had spent all of this season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, where he received praise for his grit and leadership on that prospect-heavy roster.

Jarry, who was making his fifth start in a row, stopped a dozen shots during the first to keep the Penguins in the lead. Then Sidney Crosby made it 2-0 late in the period.

After newcomer Conor Timmins had his shot blocked, Crosby located the loose puck and chopped it through the skates of Scott Mayfield and over the glove of Sorokin.

But after playing well for 40 minutes, the Penguins gave away the game in the third.

Simon Holmstrom hit an empty net to snap Pittsburgh’s win streak at four games.

Around the boards

— With Tuesday’s win, the Islanders took the season series by a 2-1-1 margin.

— Koppanen is the latest player to be recalled on an emergency basis, joining Matt Nieto and Sebastian Aho. He came into the lineup for Emil Bemstrom. Bemstrom is apparently one of a few players who, in the words of Mike Sullivan, are “nicked up.”

— Koppanen became the third Penguins player to tally his first NHL goal this season. The others are defenseman Owen Pickering and, of course, goalie Alex Nedeljkovic.

— With his goal, Crosby pulled past Wayne Gretzky into sole possession of fourth place for career points with one franchise, with 1,670. Up next is Mario Lemieux.

— Philip Tomasino played his 200th career game. It was his 41st with the Penguins.

— The NHL announced that the Penguins will play two games in Sweden next season as part of the NHL Global Series. Pittsburgh will face Nashville on Nov. 14 and 16.

Coming up next

The Penguins will have a scheduled off day Wednesday. Their five-game homestand will conclude Friday when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets at PPG Paints Arena.

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