Islanders Respond to Major Injury With Crucial Win vs. Pens

The New York Islanders learned Monday that key player Mathew Barzal is sidelined indefinitely and responded last night with a critical come-from-behind win against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Islanders downed the Penguins 4-2 to take a one point lead for the top wild-card position in the Eastern Conference. The Florida Panthers also won Monday to claim a one-point lead for the last wild-card spot.

New York netted three third-period goals, including goals 1:41 apart by Bo Horvat and Anders Lee, in beating the Penguins for the second time in three days.

Barzal, the Islanders’ second-leading scorer, was injured in the team’s 6-2 loss to the Boston Bruins on Saturday night.

“We have to find a way to fill those shoes,” Lee told NHL.com. “We talk about it all the time, but it's going to be a tough one to fill. We can do it. We've got guys. Everyone step up, take a little bit more responsibility."

The Islanders have not provided any timetable for Barzal’s return, although it seems clear he will be gone for multiple weeks. Just over seven weeks remain in the regular-season.

General manager Lou Lamoriello’s decision to acquire Horvat has turned out to be even more important than was originally anticipated.

Goaltending will be critical for the Islanders hopes to make the playoffs. Even with Barzal, the Islanders were 24th in scoring (2.92 goals per game). The Islanders and Panthers both only have 22 games remaining. Other contenders for the Eastern wild-card spots have between 24-28 games remaining.

Islanders goalies lead the NHL with six shutouts and rank fourth with a .920 save percentage. Ilya Sorokin made 44 saves against Pittsburgh.

🧱 Jets' Connor Hellebuyck made 50 saves in 4-1 defeat of the Rangers. After making 25 saves Sunday in New Jersey, Winnipeg Jets' starter Hellebuyck made a season high 50 saves (1 short of tying his career high) to end the New York Rangers' 10-game point streak Monday night. Mark Scheifele scored twice while Pierre-Luc Dubois and Kyle Connor each chipped in a goal towards the 4-1 effort. With the win, the Jets sit 1 point back from the Central Division leading Dallas Stars and 4 points ahead of the Colorado Avalanche.

🐻 Bruins' David Pastrnak scores #40 (watch) and #41 of the season in 3-1 win over the Senators. The 26-year-old Czechia native is playing lights out the final season of his contract, helping the Bruins win their 4th straight and 43rd time in 56 games this season. With 26 regular season games remaining, Pastrnak is within reach of hitting the 50-goal mark for the first time in his NHL career. He set a career high in the 2019-20 season with 48 goals.

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