Stanley Cup Playoffs: Penguins Season Ends With 5-3 Loss In Game 6

The two sides traded two goals each in the first period, with Jeff Carter striking first just over a minute into the game. Anthony Beauvillier had the response at the 5:16 mark where he beat Jarry on a backhand over his glove-side. Jake Guentzel scored his first goal of the series on the power play to regain the Penguins lead, but just over a minute later, Kyle Palmieri had the answer to level the score headed into the intermission.

The second period started with another early period goal courtesy of Jason Zucker who tipped a Cody Ceci point shot past Sorokin to put the division winners back in front. However, the Isles scored three goals in just under three minutes to get their 9,000 fan stadium loud and behind them, two from Brock Nelson and another from Ryan Pulock to seal the Pens fate. Nelson’s second goal seemed to squeak right through a rattled Jarry, another costly goal allowed by the postseason inexperienced netminder. The goals put the Islanders up 5-3 after two, and that score would hold to complete the series victory over the Penguins.

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The Pens threw another 37 shots on net versus the Isles 24, and despite being the better team, struggled to get past a hot goaltender. Additionally, the Penguins struggled to tighten up defensively against a lethal Islanders counter-attack that they always seemed to be dangerous on. The Islanders had better goaltending and were able to capitalize on their chances, while the Penguins failed to do so, and that will remain their greatest downfall in this series to close out their season.

Coach Mike Sullivan postgame: “Five of six games that we played, we felt really good about our team game. There was one of them we would have liked a better team effort. But for the most part, there was a lot of good hockey being played on both sides. That’s the nature of playoff hockey.”

The East Division Champions’ first round exit is a disappointing one after such a difficult and impressive season, and the team will surely be back hungrier for more next season.