5 day forecast
Despite loss to Islanders, Penguins retain division lead
Share with others:
UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- The Penguins squandered a chance to clinch a berth in the Stanley Cup playoffs when they lost to the New York Islanders, 4-1, at Nassau Coliseum tonight.
The Penguins still lead the Atlantic Division by two points and will face the second-place New Jersey Devils tomorrow at 7:08 p.m. at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
The Islanders had been formally eliminated from playoff contention when they lost in Philadelphia, 4-1, Sunday night.
Former Penguin Richard Park gave the Islanders a 1-0 lead with a short-handed goal at 3:22 of the first period, when he beat goalie Ty Conklin with a slap shot from the top of the right circle.
The Penguins got that goal back just 36 seconds later, though, when Petr Sykora collected a rebound to the right of the New York net and stuck a shot under the cross bar for his 28th of the season.
Bill Guerin put New York back in front, 2-1, at 11:45 of the second, snapping a high shot past Conklin on the short side from just below the right dot.
The Islanders ran their lead to 3-1 on a power-play goal by Sean Bergenheim, who punched in a rebound from the front lip of the crease at 14:53, 22 seconds after Sykora was sent off for slashing.
Trent Hunter of New York made it 4-1 at 12:41 of the third, throwing a shot past Conklin after Miroslav Satan set him up in front of the net.
First Published March 24, 2008 9:45 pm
