It’s been 28 years since the Islanders clinched a playoff series at Nassau Coliseum. That’s the opportunity they have Wednesday night in Game 6 of their first-round matchup against the Penguins before an even larger crowd than the first two playoff games in the building.
"I think they’ll handle it fine," coach Barry Trotz said on Tuesday. "We’ve been in this situation a few times the last couple of years. I think our group is pretty grounded. I don’t have to say a whole lot. They know."
The Islanders took a 3-2 series lead with Monday night’s 3-2 double-overtime win in Pittsburgh, as rookie goalie Ilya Sorokin’s stellar, 48-save performance and Josh Bailey’s gift winner off goalie Tristan Jarry’s giveaway 51 seconds into the second extra period offset a less-than-stellar outing from the rest of the team.