Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Isles need improved penalty kill to beat Pens

Kunitz scores

What do the Islanders need to do to beat the Penguins?

Oh, nothing really -- just “play almost perfect hockey,” according to their coach, Jack Capuano.

Despite losing 5-4 in overtime, the Isles played well in Game 3 of their first-round series at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Sunday. They outshot the Penguins, 36-25, and outscored them five-on-five.

But the Isles weren’t perfect. Pittsburgh ended up with five power-play opportunities, converting on three of them, including the winner in overtime.

The winning goal, by Pens forward Chris Kunitz, was scored 33 seconds after Islanders defenseman Brain Strait had taken his second penalty of the game trying to defend Sidney Crosby.

Was it a questionable call on Strait? Sure. Especially in overtime. Nobody would’ve been shocked if the referee had decided to keep his arm down.

That being said, the Isles need to do a better job on the penalty kill tonight in Game 4.

“Most definitely,” said defenseman Travis Hamonic, per ESPN’s Katie Strang. “We gave up too many goals and too many chances.”