Takeaways: Islanders Comeback Attempt Falls Short in Game 2 | NYHN+

There was definitely a push over the final two periods to get back into the game, but it wasn’t enough for the New York Islanders in Game 2.

Two early goals from the Pittsburgh Penguins were the difference as they skated to a 2-1 win and evened the first-round playoff series as it shifts back to Long Island.

“I thought we stabilized after the first 10 minutes and at the end of the first period I think the chances were fairly even,” Barry Trotz said. “I thought the second period we did a really good job on the penalty kill. We got a little bit of momentum from it, and our second period was pretty strong — for the most part.

“Third period, we needed more of a push.”

Let’s take a look at some of the major happenings from this postseason battle.

Slow first

Less than four minutes into the first period, the Islanders caught a bad break from the defense, which led to a goal Semyon Varlamov’s going to want to have back.

Ryan Pulock flubbed a puck in the neutral zone, turning it over to Bryan Rust who skated to the right circle and shot it high over Varlamov’s glove. It was a less-than ideal start and it didn’t get much better in the first.

Jeff Carter scored in the latter part of the period and doubled the lead. But it wasn’t just the goals, Pittsburgh came out flying in the first and responded well after the overtime loss Sunday.

According to Natural Stat Trick, Pittsburgh controlled over 65 percent of the total shot attempts in the frame, though the Islanders actually recorded seven high danger chances for to Pittsburgh’s three. A soft goal and not enough puck possession was a bad recipe and it was definitely a bitter period for New York.

“We just gotta come out better,” Trotz said. “There’s not magic pill that you give everybody to take this and we’ll have a good start. It comes from within.”

Varlamov recovers after first

Having sat out Game 1, Varlamov *may* have had a little rust to shake off in the first few minutes but he kept the Islanders in the game the rest of the way.

“Varlamov has been our No. 1 goalie all year, he’s got seven shutouts, he’s been outstanding, set team records and he’s fully healthy,” Trotz said. “We maybe wouldn’t be in the playoffs if it weren’t for Varly’s performance this year. … If you talk to Varly he’d probably want the first one back. After that he was outstanding.”

Taking the reins back from rookie Ilya Sorokin, the veteran netminder made 43 saves, 42 of which came at even strength.

Bailey scores in strong second 

Josh Bailey rolled through the playoffs last year with 18 points in a strong performance with the second line. On Tuesday, he got his first point of these playoffs with a goal.

The Islanders pushed hard on the forecheck before the Bailey got the puck on the left side before he dangled through and ripped a backhander high and under the bar. It was the veteran’s 11th career playoff goal. The Islanders as a whole flipped the script in the second, leading 14-9 in shot attempts.

Final power play falls short

The Islanders were again out-attempted in the last period as they desperately needed a goal, but they had one last gasp in the final 90 seconds.

Rust closed his hand on the puck and gave the Islanders a man advantage in the waning seconds. But much like their rest of the third period, the 6-on-4 advantage with an empty net proved fruitless.

Because of their high danger chances the Islanders edged Pittsburgh in expected goals for, but the final tally is what matters, especially this time of year, and actual goals went Pittsburgh’s way.