The Islanders made amends of sorts for their pre-Christmas break implosion at the hands of the 13-game-slump-breaking Buffalo Sabres by opening their post-break schedule with a satisfying 6-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
If you had to choose who they’d embarrass themselves against and who’d they piss off, then the Isles chose wisely. A Karlsson-triggering win over the Penguins provided some comfort — though also some classic Isles giveaways to make it close — as the Isles pulled away in the third after nervously bringing a one-goal lead to the second intermission.
Long-time Islanders Anders Lee and Casey Cizikas each had two goals, Sidney Crosby was kept pointless and minus-3, and Ilya Sorokin made just 22 saves as the Islanders mostly kept the 5-on-5 action light at his end.