Penguins completely flip the script mid-way through 2nd in rout of Islanders

8 – 3 (F): Anthony Mantha (28, 29) had two goals and an assist, Rickard Rakell (18, 19) scored twice as the Pittsburgh Penguins erupted mid-way through the second period in an 8-3 thrashing of the New York Islanders on Monday night. An embarrassing collapse by the Islanders or what not, the resillient Penguins continue to show they are rarely out of a game. “We’ve been in situations when we’ve been down before, and have a lot of belief in this group that we could kind of settle things down and put together some shifts where momentum could start to come our way,” head coach Dan Muse said of the Penguins response.

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Turning Point: Trailing 3-1 with under 10 minutes to go in the second period, a Rickard Rakell shorthanded goal at 11:01 of the second period saw Pittsburgh flip the script with four goals in a 6:08 span and finish the night with seven unanswered goals to jump the Islanders for second place in the Metro. “The shorthanded goal was a big turning point there,” Muse said. Prior to the Rakell shorthanded marker, the game had looked to be slipping away. Mathew Barzal had taken the game over and 24 seconds after Brayden Schenn made it 3-1 Islanders with the Isles putting three goals past Arturs Silovs on 13 shots, Noel Acciari took a tripping penalty and Pittsburgh looked toast.

Mantha Mania: Consecutive goals from Anthony Mantha at 14:35 and 17:18 of the second period was the icing on the cake of breaking in pushing Pittsburgh’s lead to 5-3. This was the moment the Islanders truly looked emotionally done on the night and shocked at what had transpired in a near six+ minute span. Pittsburgh would add three more goals in the third.

30: Pittsburgh not only jumps the Islanders by a point with a game in hand, Pittsburgh moves two games above the Islanders in regulation wins; 30-to-28

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#’s

Anthony Mantha | 2 Goals (28, 29) – 1 Assist

Justin Brazeau | 3 Assists

Rickard Rakell | 2 Goals (18, 19)

Bryan Rust | 1 Goal (27), 1 Assist

Avery Hayes | 1 Goal (3)

Ryan Shea | 1 Goal (5)

Elmer Soderblom | 1 Goal (4)

Sidney Crosby | 2 Assists

Kris Letang | 2 Assists