New York Islanders rally to defeat Pittsburgh Penguins 4-2

In an NHL matchup on March 18, 2025, the New York Islanders overcame a two-goal deficit to defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-2 at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The game marked a significant comeback for the Islanders, who had trailed 2-0 for the second straight game prior to the event. Kyle Palmieri dramatically initiated the scoring for the Islanders just 17 seconds into the third period after exploiting a mistake by Penguins defenseman Kris Letang. Following Palmieri's goal, Noah Dobson tied the game by scoring at 5:34 of the third period after capitalizing on a rebound. The momentum shifted further in favor of the Islanders as Pierre Engvall scored what would be the tiebreaking goal at 6:52, beating Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry, who recorded 34 saves throughout the match. Simon Holmstrom capped the scoring for the Islanders with an empty-net goal with just 1:32 left on the clock, ensuring a firm lead for his team. On the other hand, the Penguins initially took control of the game with Joona Koppanen's first NHL goal, scoring 4:40 into the match by deflecting a shot. Sidney Crosby then doubled the lead for the Penguins just 15 seconds before the first period concluded, marking his 24th goal of the season and also surpassing Wayne Gretzky for the fourth-most points with one franchise in NHL history. Despite their initial strong showing, the Penguins saw their four-game win streak come to an end, slipping to 5-4-1 in their last ten games. The defeat saw the Islanders improve to three points away from a wild card spot in the Eastern Conference, with this victory indicating their potential for recovery in the current season. Following this match, the Islanders are set to host the Montreal Canadiens, while the Penguins will face the Columbus Blue Jackets at home.