Anthony Mantha scored twice and added an assist and the Pittsburgh Penguins produced a five-goal second period amid seven unanswered goals to claim an 8-3 comeback victory over the New York Islanders on Monday in Elmont, N.Y.
Rickard Rakell scored twice, Bryan Rust posted one goal and one assist, and Elmer Soderblom, Ryan Shea and Avery Hayes also scored for the Penguins (37-21-16, 90 points), who jumped over the Islanders (42-28-5, 89 points) for second place in the Metropolitan Division.
Justin Brazeau notched three assists while Sidney Crosby collected two assists in his return after missing the previous game due to a lower-body injury. Parker Wotherspoon and Kris Letang also posted a pair of helpers apiece, and Pittsburgh goaltender Arturs Silovs made 20 saves.
Mathew Barzal netted one goal and one assist while Anders Lee and Brayden Schenn both scored once for the Islanders. Adam Boqvist and Cal Ritchie both collected a pair of assists.
New York’s starting goalie, Ilya Sorokin, surrendered seven goals on 28 shots before being pulled. David Rittich stopped two of three shots in relief.
The Penguins roared back after falling behind 3-1 before the midway point.
Rakell kicked off Pittsburgh’s comeback by redirecting Rust’s pass during a 2-on-1 rush at 11:01 of the second period for a short-handed goal.
Shea tied the clash 3-3 with a rocket of a one-timer from just inside the left circle at 13:29.
Mantha put the Penguins ahead with his first of the night, completing a backhand deke on a breakaway at 14:35.
Before the second period was over, Mantha made it a 5-3 affair at 17:18 by converting another backhand deke as he drove to the net after receiving a cross-ice feed.
Hayes extended the margin at 6:06 of the third period when he slid home the loose puck.
Rakell netted his second of the game less than two minutes later when the puck bounced off him after Brazeau’s shot was stopped on another odd-man rush.
Rust rounded out the scoring with 3:44 remaining.
After a scoreless opening frame, the clubs combined for an eight-goal second period.
Lee opened the scoring with a power-play goal 87 seconds into the frame, and Barzal doubled the lead 89 seconds later by lifting a top-corner shot.
Soderblom put the Penguins on the board by pouncing on a loose puck at 6:41, but Schenn restored New York’s two-goal edge less than three minutes later.
–Field Level Media
