5 Takeaways: Islanders Tie Series with 4-1 Win in Game 4

Series tied.
The New York Islanders squared up their First Round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins at two games apiece after scoring a 4-1 win in Game 4 at Nassau Coliseum on Saturday afternoon.
Josh Bailey, Ryan Pulock, Oliver Wahlstrom and Jordan Eberle scored for the Islanders, who netted four goals for the third time in four games, while Ilya Sorokin stopped 29 shots in the win. Zach Aston-Reese scored the lone goal for the Penguins in the waning minutes, but it wasn't enough to halt the party on Hempstead Turnpike.

Tied 2-2, the best-of-seven series now becomes a best-of-three and at least one more playoff game is assured at the Coliseum.
"We've been in a few playoff series now the past few years, so we have a feel on where our heads need to be at and where our focus is at," Mathew Barzal said. "We'll enjoy this one, but once we leave the rink tonight, it's a tied series, a three-game series here."
Here are five takeaways from a series-tying win.

ISLES ESTABLISH A LEAD:

The Islanders had only led for 3:43 in the first 196:30 of their series entering Game 4, but that changed after a pair of second-period goals for the Islanders.
After a scoreless first, the Islanders broke the ice at 8:07 of the middle frame, as Bailey netted his second goal of the playoffs to put the Isles up 1-0.
With Anthony Beauvillier drawing attention in front of the net, Brock Nelson found a wide-open Bailey, who snapped a wrister through Tristan Jarry.
Pulock gave the Islanders their first two-goal lead of the series shortly after, depositing his first of the playoffs at 14:51.
The goal came on a broken play, as Wahlstom put a shot off Jarry's far pad, causing a rebound to ricochet into the slot. The loose puck went by JG Pageau to Pulock, who stepped into a shot that caromed off Cody Ceci's skate and past Jarry.
"We got off to a better start," Head Coach Barry Trotz said. "In the second period we started getting our traction and scored the first goal, which is key for us. The last little while we haven't led very much, so we did a good job of managing the puck, staying on top of them and doing good things."

POWER PLAY POURS IT ON IN THIRD PERIOD:

Armed with a 2-0 lead, the Islanders could have easily gone into lockdown mode, especially after a 16-1-2 record when leading after two periods during the regular season.
Instead, the Islanders stepped on the gas, scoring two power-play goals 24 seconds apart to bury the Penguins early in the third period.
"That's part of our DNA, to be aggressive," Trotz said. "Just because you have a lead doesn't mean you sit back. We want to be on our toes the whole time. That's my biggest message, make sure you make good decisions with the puck, stay aggressive, and let's make sure we keep things fresh and be on the right side of people."
With Scott Mayfield off for holding Sidney Crosby, Adam Pelech drew two Penguins' penalties, first a tripping call on Jason Zucker and an interference call on Kris Letang shortly after. That turned a Pens power play into an extended four-on-three for the Islanders, who took advantage.
ISLES PENS GAME 4
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ISLANDERS PENGUINS VIDEO
Full Highlights
Bailey's Opening Goal
Pulock's Blast
Wahlstrom's PPG
Eberle's PPG
Trotz Postgame
Barzal and Eberle Postgame
Pulock and Sorokin Postgame
KINGER'S CALLS
Bailey's Opening Goal
Pulock's Blast
Wahlstrom's PPG
Eberle's PPG
The Islanders' power play closed in on the Penguins penalty kill, shrinking the triangle until Wahlstrom beat Jarry at 6:04 for his first playoff goal, pounding a slap shot on Jarry, which rebounded off the Penguins' netminder, off Teddy Blueger's stick in front and in.
The Islanders still had a five-on-four power play at that point and cashed in again, as Eberle found some open space and beat Jarry high glove to make it 4-0 at 6:28.
"That's a critical moment in the game," Barzal said. "If they kill that off and they get a lot of life. It was two huge goals and put the game away."

SOROKIN SHARP IN SECOND START:

The Islanders went back to Ilya Sorokin for Game 4 on Saturday afternoon turning to the rookie after Semyon Varlamov was in net for losses in Games 2 and 3 on Tuesday and Thursday, respectively.
Sorokin was solid, stopping 29-of-30 shots in the win, and was called upon early, denying Kasperi Kapanen on a partial breakaway a minute into the game. That set the tone for Sorokin's afternoon as he was equal to the task of shutting down the Penguins.
"We have confidence in him, but the whole bench just said, 'hey, he's dialed in, so we have to be dialed in, too," Trotz said.
Sorokin's most important stop came on a Sidney Crosby chance in the second period, stretching out and staying with the Penguins captain who tried to outwait and pull the puck around the Islanders' netminder. The game was tied 0-0 at that juncture and could have easily been a turning point.
Zach Aston-Reese ended Sorokin's shutout bid with a shorthanded goal with 2:35 to play, tapping in a Brian Dumoulin shot. Despite the late goal, the crowd responded with an "Il-ya" chant to show their appreciation for the rookie netminder.
"Finally to see fans at game it's very exciting because we play for fans," Sorokin said. When you hear [a] loud [building], you feel energy… I just enjoy game and enjoy the moment."

ISLES FRUSTRATE PENS STARS:

The Islanders got under the skin of the Penguins star players on Saturday afternoon.
Evgeni Malkin took three penalties in the first two periods, including a retaliation on Cal Clutterbuck for a clean hit by the benches. The Penguins other three trips to the sin bin came from top players, when Zucker and Letang negated a Pittsburgh power play, and Jake Guentzel took a late penalty.
Offensively, the Islanders held the Crosby line in check, as Crosby, Guentzel and Bryan Rust have combined for three total points (2G, 1A) through four games.

CROWD FACTOR:

Nassau Coliseum was rocking once again on Saturday afternoon, carrying over the rowdy atmosphere from Thursday night.
The Islanders used the energy from the crowd early and appreciated the raucous atmosphere throughout the night. A bunch of familiar faces helped energize the crowd as well, as Matt Moulson, Shawn Bates and John Tonelli were among the many alumni in the stands.
Perhaps the rowdiest fans were a handful of New York Jets in attendance, appearing on the jumbotron to get the crowd going multiple times. Their enthusiasm was appreciated by Trotz.
"The crowd is a big factor in this building," Trotz said. "They have to continue to give us their best. We'll give our best and they've got to give their best. And I thought they did today. I even saw some of the Jets players having a ball at a hockey game. Then, there was some old Islanders. What a great atmosphere."

NEXT GAME:

Game 5 goes on Monday night in Pittsburgh. Perhaps more importantly, there will be a Game 6 on Wednesday night at the Coliseum.