Islanders defeat Penguins in Game 6, win first-round series

UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- Brock Nelson had two goals and an assist, and the New York Islanders eliminated the Pittsburgh Penguins with a 5-3 win in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup First Round at Nassau Coliseum on Wednesday.

"This group always sticks with it," Nelson said. "The fans gave us a boost, they were fired up today. They were rowdy, they were loud. … Once we got the lead, they were loud through the end. It's awesome having them back. We just wanted to get that one in front of them."
Anthony Beauvillier had a goal and two assists for the Islanders, the No. 4 seed in the MassMutual East Division. Rookie goalie Ilya Sorokin made 34 saves and won his four starts in the best-of-7 series.
New York will play the No. 3 seed Boston Bruins in the second round beginning Saturday in Boston (8 p.m. ET; NBC).
"When everybody stays on task, a lot can get accomplished with the group," Islanders coach Barry Trotz said. "I've said it probably to every team I've had, 'You want to go somewhere fast, go by yourself. You want to go somewhere far, go with the group.' This group believes in the group, the strength in the group."

Jason Zucker had a goal and an assist, and Tristan Jarry made 19 saves for the Penguins, the No. 1 seed. They have not advanced past the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2018.
"I think it's just disappointment," Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby said. "It's not guaranteed to make the playoffs. We've been fortunate that we've been there a lot (15 straight seasons). Every time you get to play in the playoffs, it's an opportunity. It really is the best time of the year. You want to be in it. You want to play for a long time. You want to compete for the Stanley Cup, so it's never a good feeling when you lose."
Zucker gave Pittsburgh its third lead of the game on a redirection of Cody Ceci's shot at 1:53 of the second period to make it 3-2, but the Islanders responded with three goals in 2:59, including two in 13 seconds.
Nelson scored off a cross-ice feed from Josh Bailey to tie it 3-3 at 8:35, and Ryan Pulock scored on a one-timer at 8:48 to give New York a 4-3 lead.
Nelson scored again at 11:34 when his shot from the slot squeaked between Jarry's pads to make it 5-3, prompting the Penguins to call timeout.
"It was a crazy game, but never out of reach," Nelson said. "No quit in this team. We always try to fight back, and we were able to do that tonight."

Sorokin preserved the two-goal lead with a pad save on Evgeni Malkin's breakaway at 13:12.
Crosby, who scored one goal in the series playing mostly against Pulock and defenseman Adam Pelech, hit the post from the slot at the end of a Penguins power play at 1:02 of the third period.
"We got a huge save and it settled us right down," Trotz said. "… [Pelech and Pulock] have become a really good pair in the National Hockey League as a pair. They've done a great job.
"Sid is unbelievable, how he can create and how hard he is to contain. He's a guy that feels pressure and he can spin off and he can make plays on his forehand, his backhand. He's so intelligent. It takes a very good group of players to try to defend him and keep him in check."

Jeff Carter gave Pittsburgh a 1-0 lead on its first shot at 1:27 of the first period on a 2-on-1. It was his fourth goal of the series. Beauvillier tied it 1-1 at 5:16 on a backhand over Jarry's glove after a pass from Nelson.
Jake Guentzel made it 2-1 on the power play when his shot went off Pulock at 11:12, his first goal of the series. Kyle Palmieri tied it 2-2 at 12:25 on a rebound of Jean-Gabriel Pageau's shot.
"When they get opportunities, they capitalize on them," Carter said. "That's how they win games. They played a heck of a series as well. It could've went either way, to be honest with you. That's how I feel."
NOTES: It was the first time the Islanders clinched a playoff series at Nassau Coliseum since Game 6 of the Patrick Division Semifinals against the Washington Capitals in 1993. … New York forward Oliver Wahlstrom did not play because of an undisclosed injury sustained in Game 5. He was replaced by forward Travis Zajac, who had an assist and was plus-2 in 11:55 of ice time. … Malkin had two assists to give him 174 playoff points, passing Mario Lemieux (172) for second in Penguins history. Crosby leads with 191.