Uniondale, NY

Chris Kunitz scored his second power-play goal of the game in overtime as the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the New York Islanders, 5-4, to take a 2-1 lead in their Eastern Conference quarterfinal showdown at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Kunitz got the puck from captain Sidney Crosby in the slot and unleashed a quick shot that beat Evgeni Nabokov at 8:44 into overtime for the game-winning tally.

The assist was the third of the game for Crosby, who earlier drew a penalty from Islanders defenseman Brian Strait as he drove to the net, giving the Penguins their fifth power play in the game.

"That's typical of what Sidney Crosby can do -- he draws a penalty by going down low and going to the net," said Penguins coach Dan Bylsma. "He hasn't played much hockey in the last month, but playing-wise and skill-wise, he's shown quite a bit in two games."

Marc-Andre Fleury finished with 32 saves while Jarome Iginla, Douglas Murray and Pascal Dupuis also scored for the Penguins.

Evgeni Nabokov stopped 20 shots for the Islanders, who haven't won at home in the Stanley Cup Playoffs since beating the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 2 of the 2002 playoffs.

The Islanders took an early 2-0 lead behind goals by Matt Moulson and rookie Casey Cizikas but the Penguins countered with three goals, including two power-play goals 19 seconds apart, to take a 3-2 lead and silence the home crowd.

"It was pretty emotional to be down that early," Crosby said. "I thought we did a great job just staying with it."

Murray, a late-season acquisition from the San Jose Sharks, added a goal late in the second period to give the Penguins a 4-2 lead.

However, Kyle Okposo scored a shorthanded goal early in the third before John Tavares beat Fleury with his first playoff goal at 10:48 to force overtime.

The Penguins have a chance to take a 3-1 lead in Game 4 Tuesday night at the Coliseum, where the Islanders have lost seven consecutive playoff games.

 

 

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Chris Kunitz Nets Power-Play Goal in OT, Lifts Penguins past Islanders