In the NHL playoffs, Game 5 is called “pivotal”. As such, the match between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Islanders required double overtime before the result was decided. This series is possibly the closest in the starting round.
Pittsburgh Penguins On The Verge Of Being Knocked Out
The Islanders came out on front through the heroics of Josh Bailey. He found the goal after 51 seconds had passed in the 2nd extra-time period. This secured their 3-2 victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday. The Penguins had the home advantage as well.
The result also means that the Pittsburgh Penguins now trail the series 3-2. They will have to win the sixth game on Wednesday at Long Island if they are to keep their chances of advancing to the next round alive.
The struggle in the match to get the upper hand was just as tight as the series score. One of the teams would always have been in this desperate situation after the fifth game. The Pittsburgh Penguins were just about edged out by the Islanders in that aspect.
The Penguins had dictated the play for most of the match. However, they could not finish it as Tristan Jarry, their netminder, failed to clear the puck. Josh Bailey scooped it up and carried it in as he took a soft shot from inside the circles. That was late enough to decide the game.
The Islanders did not really show any sense of urgency till the 3rd period. By then the Pittsburgh Penguins were leading 2-1. However, the Islanders first shot of the period at 8:50 went in. Jordan Eberle was the scorer by luring out Jarry from the crease.
Through 2 periods, the Islanders recorded a mere nineteen shot attempts. The Penguins had dominated them with their speed in the 2nd period especially.
