Mar 30, 2026; Elmont, New York, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins left wing Elmer Soderblom (25) celebrates his goal against the New York Islanders with teammates during the second period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
ELMONT, NY — In a Monday-night matchup that held massive playoff implications, the New York Islanders yielded six unanswered goals, including five in the second period, to fall 8-3 to the Pittsburgh Penguins at UBS Arena.
The eight goals allowed were the most allowed by the Islanders this season.
The Penguins had just five shorthanded goals all season, but forward Rickard Rakell cut into the Islanders’ 3-1 lead with his first career short-hander, which sparked a four-goal run in 6:17 to land an indefensible sucker punch and jump over the Islanders for second place in the Metropolitan Division.
Rakell’s goal came after the Islanders (42-28-5, 89 points) opened the period with two goals in 1:29. The Penguins scored their first goal just a few minutes later before New York jumped out to a 3-1 lead after a Brayden Schenn second-chance opportunity.
The momentum appeared as though it continued to shift in New York’s favor after Penguins forward Noel Acciari was booked for tripping, yet that’s not how the ice melted at UBS Arena on Monday.
Rakell scored his goal 1:20 into the Islanders’ power play, cutting the lead back to 3-2. Defenseman Ryan Shea then tied the game at 3 after going bardown. Anthony Mantha then had a breakaway goal of his own to put the Penguins in front before he added another goal to the tally at 17:18.
Pittsburgh had turned the game around and given itself a two-goal cushion heading into the third.
And that defensive collapse continued into the final 20 minutes as well. A 3-on-1 opportunity six minutes into the final period netted the Penguins their sixth goal on the night, and Rakell ended New York goalie Ilya Sorokin’s night with his second and Pittsburgh’s seventh goal less than two minutes later.
The collapse catapulted the Penguins ahead of the Islanders in the Metropolitan standings, as Pittsburgh now has a one-point advantage over New York with one less game played.
The eight-goal second was the complete opposite of the scoreless first period between the two sides, which was marked by missed chances and physicality.
Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby knocked one off the crossbar, and forward Ben Kindel found the post later in the first period. New York defenseman Adam Pelech hit the left post as well, but each team’s defense held its own until the second period.
The Penguins now sit at 90 points, placing them one point ahead of the Islanders with one fewer game played.
The Islanders travel to Buffalo on Tuesday for a matchup with the Sabres, who will enter the game tied for the most points in the East.
