Matt Murray made 32 saves for Pittsburgh, which last lost the first three games of a series in 2013, when it was swept by the Boston Bruins in the Eastern Conference Final. Penguins center Sidney Crosby has been held without a point in the first three games.
"You've got to find ways to score goals this time of year," Crosby said. "It's not easy, but you have to find a way to do it. Obviously, we haven't done a good enough job of that these first three games."
Wilson gave the Penguins a 1-0 lead by deflecting a shot from Marcus Pettersson past Lehner at 12:54 of the first period. But Eberle tied it 28 seconds later. He took a pass from Ryan Pulock just above the goal line to the left of the net, and his wrist shot hit Murray's shoulder and went into the top corner at 13:22 to make it 1-1. Eberle has scored a goal in each of the first three games.
Nelson put the Islanders ahead 2-1 at 14:24, finishing off a 2-on-1 rush by taking a snap shot that beat Murray to the blocker side for his second goal of the playoffs.