Islanders proving to Sidney Crosby and Penguins that they belong

By Larry Brooks

https://nypost.com/2019/04/13/islanders-proving-to-sidney-crosby-and-penguins-that-they-belong/

April 13, 2019

Anthony Beauvillier #18 of the New York Islanders celebrates his second period goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on April 12, 2019 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

There were moments when it appeared as if Sidney Crosby would take control. Bewitched, bothered and perhaps even bewildered (probably not) by the swarming coverage he faced at both ends of the ice, No. 87 took command with a grinding down-low shift midway through the second period that appeared to kickstart a Penguins team that had spent more time berating the officials than playing the Islanders.

But moments, that in fact were relatively few and far between, weren’t enough in Friday’s Game 2 at a Coliseum that rocked while the Islanders rolled to a 3-1 victory and a 2-0 lead in this first round that picks up in Pittsburgh on Sunday afternoon.

You can make the argument that in winning the opening two, the Islanders have merely held serve. But these 124:34 have reinforced the notion that they are the better team, recent postseason history be damned. And if you want some not-so-recent postseason history, there is this: The Islanders had not led a series 2-0 since their 1983 sweep of the Oilers in the finals that produced the fourth straight Cup.

“We’re not relying on some mystical history from over 30 years ago,” a bemused Cal Clutterbuck said when informed of that factoid. “It’s about what we do now.”

The Islanders had the better of it in the one-on-one’s. They put the puck in well-placed areas on their dump-ins while creating a minefield through which the Penguins had to maneuver the full 200 time and again. And when the game moved from tight spaces into open areas, the Islanders were the quicker and crisper team.

“We’re trying to stay above [Crosby] and make him go through people,” said Clutterbuck, who played his customary hard-edged game. “He’s probably the best player in the world offensively and he’s hard to contain but if we have people between him and the net and take away his time and space, it gives us our best chance.”

Crosby had the puck more than he did inWednesday’s 4-3 overtime first game. Analytically, he had a pretty good night with a 64-percent Corsi rating (16/9) in 12:43 of five-on-five time while matched most often against Brock Nelson and Casey Cizikas up front and almost exclusively against the Adam Pelech-Ryan Pulock defense pair.

But while No. 87 did deliver a couple of nifty set-ups, he could never quite power or finesse his way into open ice around Robin Lehner’s net. He had only one shot (on one attempt). For a second straight game, Crosby was contained by an Islanders team that was relentless in its pursuit and doggedly efficient in its own end.

“The D is getting the puck to us quickly,” Cizikas said. “They’re not messing around.”

This was a nasty one. Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang, two of the filthiest players around (double meaning), took as many cheap shots as they could. The lack of discipline cost the Penguins. But the Islanders were unable to take advantage, failing to score on their first five power plays including a 54-second five-on-three early in the second period. Soon after, Erik Gudbranson drove a 45-footer past Lehner and the Penguins had their first lead of the series at 10:36 of the second period.

It didn’t last long, however, with Anthony Beauvillier slamming home a rebound at 13:25 off a two-on-one rush with Mathew Barzal. Jordan Eberle, a pending free agent, got the winner with a nifty backhand at 7:54, driving to the net from the right corner off a Barzal feed and beating Murray after making both Jack Johnson and Justin Schultz look silly. Josh Bailey’s PPG at 11:38 salted it.

“We’re trying to stick with it and play a certain way,” Clutterbuck said. “It’s been the same thing all year. It’s been our mentality for a long time.”

The Penguins will have the last match Sunday and for Tuesday’s Game 4. Their coach, Mike Sullivan, will surely try to get Crosby on against Barzal, a match Barry Trotz has avoided for all but 1:45 over the last five periods. The Islanders have won twice, but they haven’t done anything yet.

The heavy lifting is still to come. But the Islanders look like they can handle the weight.