Sidney Crosby claimed the franchise’s all-time record for assists as the host Pittsburgh Penguins claimed a 3-2 victory over the New York Islanders on Sunday.
Michael Bunting had a goal and an assist, Philip Tomasino had two assists, Evgeni Malkin and Anthony Beauvillier each added a goal, and goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic made 29 saves for the Penguins, who won the second half of a home-and-home series. The Islanders claimed the first meeting of the set, a 6-3 game on Saturday.
With his point, Crosby surpassed Mario Lemieux as Pittsburgh’s all-time assists leader with 1,034 helpers.
Anders Lee and Bo Horvat scored for the Islanders, who have only two wins in their last six games. Goalie Marcus Hogberg, in his first NHL start since April 28, 2021, while with the Ottawa Senators, stopped 38 shots.
Beauvillier opened the scoring against his former team at 3:54 of the first when he drove to the net on an odd-man rush and redirected Bunting’s cross-ice pass.
Bunting’s power-play goal doubled the lead 96 seconds into the second period. Bunting cut deep into the slot for a pass from Crosby that he immediately converted for his fourth goal in a three-game streak.
Malkin made it a three-goal game with another man-advantage marker at 6:57 of the third period.
However, the Islanders scored twice with the goalie pulled to make it close. Lee put the visitors on the board with 7:01 remaining in regulation by deflecting Alexander Romanov’s point shot.
Lee made it a one-goal game three minutes later, credited with the goal when Bo Horvat’s shot banked into the net off his body.
The Islanders once again failed to score with the man-advantage. They have not scored a power-play goal in eight games, going 0-for-16 in that swoon. New York has surrendered 13 opposition power-play goals in 12 outings.
With Penguins defenseman Kris Letang scratched due to an undisclosed injury, Nathan Clurman made his NHL debut. Clurman, 26, was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in 2016 and signed with Pittsburgh via free agency this past summer.
–Field Level Media
