The Penguins overturned a 3-1 deficit by netting five goals in the middle frame, swinging momentum decisively in this key Metropolitan Division clash. Mantha, now leading Pittsburgh with 29 goals, scored twice and added an assist.
“It means a lot. Last year, I battled through a lot. The confidence was there coming in here. No matter what, I knew I had more. Here I am just trying to contribute… the guys on this team have had my back, the coaching staff had my back, from day one, so it s awesome to have results, too,” Mantha said, per NHL.
Rickard Rakell also scored twice, while Bryan Rust contributed a goal and an assist. Team leaders Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang each added two assists, fueling Pittsburgh’s offensive explosion.
The Islanders started strongly, taking a 3-1 lead early in the second period, but defensive lapses proved costly. “We were just awful defensively,” said Islanders defenceman Ryan Pulock. “[We allowed] guys behind us, breakaways, losing puck battles… halfway through that period, we were just awful defensively.”
Penguins coach Dan Muse emphasized his team’s composure despite trailing. “The start of the second period, we got away from the things that I liked in the first a little bit,” he said. Islanders coach Patrick Roy called the momentum swing a “turning point in that game,” highlighting how the second-period surge defined the outcome.
