Pens show resilience in final game | News, Sports, Jobs

The New York Islanders secured a thrilling 5-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins in their final regular-season game on Wednesday night. Simon Holmstrom scored the game-winning goal in the third period, while goaltender Ilya Sorokin made a crucial save on Sidney Crosby’s late penalty shot to seal the win.

The Islanders, who have been on a hot streak with eight wins in their last nine games, got contributions from Samuel Bolduc, Brock Nelson, Casey Cizikas, and Kyle Palmieri in addition to Holmstrom’s heroics. Sorokin was stellar in net, making 39 saves, including the pivotal stop on Crosby.

On the other side, Jeff Carter scored in what could be his final NHL game, as the Penguins fell short of making the playoffs for the second consecutive season. Rickard Rakell, Evgeni Malkin, and Valtteri Puustinen also found the back of the net for Pittsburgh.

The game was a back-and-forth affair, with the Islanders taking the lead multiple times only to see the Penguins respond. Ultimately, Holmstrom’s goal proved to be the difference-maker, giving New York the edge they needed to secure the win.

With the regular season now behind them, the Islanders will shift their focus to the playoffs, where they will face off against the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round. Meanwhile, the Penguins will head into the offseason with their sights set on regrouping for next season.

Overall, it was a thrilling and emotional night of hockey, with both teams leaving it all on the ice in a high-stakes matchup. The Islanders will look to carry their momentum into the postseason, while the Penguins will use this game as motivation moving forward.