Penguins stumble; comeback thwarted by Islanders

ELMONT, NY — This article originally appeared on PGHHockeyNOW.com.

The Pittsburgh Penguins (16-15-5) scored a fourth-line goal later in the second period and earned a fortuitous goal in the final minutes of the second period to close a formerly 4-1 New York Islanders (13-15-7) lead to 4-3. Noel Acciari converted a fourth-line net-front scrum for the first goal of the attempted comeback, and then Rickard Rakell tipped Matt Grzelcyk’s shot with just four seconds remaining in the middle period.

A struggling but present Penguins team was bolstered as the sinking Islanders’ shoulders dropped.

However, that was the end of the Penguins’ comeback, as both teams skated through a low-event third period. The Penguins had only two shots in the first 15 minutes of the third. Casey Czikas scored his second goal of the game on a breakaway at 14 43 of the third, and the Islanders beat the Penguins 6-3 at UBS Arena on Saturday.

Anders Lee (15) scored the empty netter, also his second goal of the game.

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