Game Recap: Islanders 6, Penguins 4

UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) – Leads aren’t safe in the wild first-round playoff matchup between the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh. Suddenly, neither are the top-seeded Penguins.

Through four games of the best-of-seven series, both teams have two wins. The latest big momentum shift has swung sharply in the direction of the No. 8 Islanders.

John Tavares scored with 9:49 left, and the Islanders beat the Penguins 6-4 Tuesday night to get even in the series that will resume with Game 5 in Pittsburgh on Thursday night.

“We found a way today. Another roller coaster ride,” Tavares said. “We learned from those games when we gave up leads – a lot of us said that one bounce can change a season.”

Or end one.

The Penguins were ousted in the first round in each of the previous two years. They now face the prospect of another early summer if they can’t turn things around quickly.

“We’ve got a lot of veteran guys in this room that have been through this,” Penguins forward James Neal said. “We just need to regroup here. We’ll come out ready to go and fired up in our own building.

“We knew what we were up against. Once you get into playoffs, seeds and where you finished is out the door.”

Tavares slammed in his own rebound in front after Brad Boyes fed him following a turnover by Penguins star Evgeni Malkin. It was the Islanders’ third one-goal advantage in the game. This highly entertaining series has already featured 5-4 and 6-4 finishes at Nassau Coliseum. >> Continue Reading <<

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