The Pittsburgh Penguins’ season is over. Known Penguin slayer, the orca of the Eastern Conference, Barry Trotz coached his New York Islanders to a four-game sweep. The Isles won Game Four 3-1.
This will be the first loffs since 2015-16 that the Capitals and Penguins will not meet.
The series was a master class in counter-play from Trotz. The Islanders were relentless in shutting down the Penguins’ offense. Meanwhile, New York enjoyed a monster series from Jordan Eberle, who scored four goals. Brock Nelson was right behind him with three. Josh Bailey secured the sweep with an empty netter in Game Four.
An empty net goal gives the #Isles a 3-1 lead with 38 seconds left… pic.twitter.com/WVOQpVlGde
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) April 17, 2019
Pittsburgh captain and first runner-up for the 2006 Calder Trophy, Sidney Crosby, recorded his first and only point of the series in Game Four, a primary assist on Jake Guentzel’s goal. It was Pittsburgh’s only goal of the night.
You hate to see it.
The Penguins will now reckon with some suspect roster moves made lately, including adding Jack Johnson in the offseason and Erik Gudbranson at the trade deadline. Both defenders had troubled series.
Meanwhile, the Islanders had not made the playoffs since 2016, when they lost in the second round to the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Islanders will face the winner of the Capitals-Hurricanes series.
The @NYIslanders have earned a series-clinching victory on the road for the 13th time in team history and first since the 1993 Division Finals, also at PIT. #NHLStats #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/YkWzfjdc2R
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 17, 2019
New York’s sweep is the second of the night. Columbus eliminated Tampa earlier.
