Post-Game Buzz: Islanders take Game 2 with impressive 4-3 win to tie series

So much for those believing the Penguins first round series with the New York Islanders was setting up to be a walk through after the Penguins dominant 5-0 Game 1 win.

Tonight it appeared the Penguins were headed to another blowout win as Evgeni Malkin scored 43 seconds into the game and Sidney Crosby scored two first period goals, Penguins jumped out to a 3-1 first period lead, 7:22 into the game.

The Penguins, though, were met by a much different Islanders team that was aggressive offensively and pushed back, defeating the Penguins 4-3 on Friday night in Game 2 to tie the series at 1-1. The Islanders rallied from a 3-1 first period deficit, in impressive fashion.

New York outplayed the Penguins for much of the game, outshooting Pittsburgh 20-12 after one period, yet trailed 3-1 at the first intermission.

The Islanders would break loose in the second period, getting goals from role players Colin McDonald (1) and Matt Martin (1) to tie the game at 3-3, 10:37 into the second period.

The Penguins would never gain momentum back as the Islanders kept pushing the play offensively all night, played a much better defensive structure, and the Penguins failed to capitalize on a four minute power play late in the second period that carried over into the third.

Tied at 3-3, Kyle Okposo scored at 12:23 of the third period for the eventual game winning goal on a shot in the slot that went wide and bounced off Marc Andre Fleury and into the net.

Evgeni Nabokov made 30 saves to record the win. New York outshot Pittsburgh 42-33.

Game 3 is Sunday afternoon.

0:43 Evgeni Malkin (1)

Assist: Jarome Iginla (PIT 1-0)

3:19 Sidney Crosby (1) (Power Play)

Assists: Jarome Iginla, Evgeni Malkin (PIT 2-0)

7:04 Matt Moulson (1) (Power Play)

Assists: John Tavares, Mark Streit (PIT 2 – 1)

7:22 Sidney Crosby (2)

Assists: Pascal Dupuis, Mark Eaton (PIT 3-1)

5:12 Colin McDonald (1)

Assists: Keith Aucoin, David Ullstrom (PIT 3-2)

10:37 Matt Martin (1)

Assists: Josh Bailey, Frans Nielsen (Tied 3-3)

12:23 Kyle Okposo (1)

Assists: Matt Moulson, Mark Streit (NYI 4-3)