Point well taken for second-place Isles

Shootout Loss in Pittsburgh Forges Tie with Rangers in Metropolitan

March 16, 2016 By John Torenli, Sports Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Rookie Jean-Francois Berube makes one of his 33 saves Tuesday night in Pittsburgh against Sidney Crosby as the Islanders picked up a big point in an eventual 2-1 shootout loss to the playoff-hopeful Penguins. AP photo

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Rookie goaltender Jean-Francois Berube made 33 saves and Kyle Okposo’s clutch third-period goal helped the New York Islanders salvage a crucial point in Tuesday night’s 2-1 shootout loss to the Penguins in front of 18,456 fans at Pittsburgh’s CONSOL Energy Center.

Berube, bumped into the primary back-up role behind Thomas Greiss following a groin injury suffered by starter Jaroslav Halak in last week’s 2-1 win over Pittsburgh at Downtown’s Barclays Center, was unable to deny Kris Letang’s shootout winner.

Okposo, team captain John Tavares and shootout specialist Frans Nielsen were all denied by Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury during the NHL’s game-deciding skills competition.

But the night could have been much worse for the Islanders (38-21-9) if Okposo hadn’t slammed home a rebound off a shot by Anders Lee, getting the puck just under the pads of Fleury and forging a 1-1 deadlock with 5:25 remaining in regulation.

The single point thrust New York into a virtual tie with the arch rival Rangers for second place in the Metropolitan Division standings, giving the Islanders a leg up in the chase for home ice in the opening round of the playoffs.

It also kept wild card-leading Pittsburgh three points behind New York in the nightly jostling for postseason positioning.

“I’m real proud of the guys and the effort they put forth tonight,” Islanders head coach Jack Capuano said following his team’s third defeat in four games, two of which have come via shootout loss.

“You come into this building against a really high-quality team on a back-to-back with long travel and come out with a point.”

Fresh off their come-from-behind 3-2 victory over Florida at Barclays on Monday night, the Isles found themselves down a goal early in the Steel City.

Chris Kunitz connected for his 14th tally of the season off assists from Brian Dumoulin and Sidney Crosby at the 15:51 mark of the opening period.

From there, Berube, picked up by general manager Garth Snow from Los Angeles during the preseason, made sure the Penguins never lit the lamp again in regulation.

His sprawling stops and quick covers on rebounds prevented the Isles from falling into a deeper hole before Okposo’s game-tying tally insured the playoff-hungry Isles of at least one point.

“I just tried to play as simple as I could, put my body in front of the puck, be square and be on top of the paint,” said Berube, who is 1-1-1 in four appearances, including three starts, for New York. “Just trying to focus on the little details and I knew I’d get my rhythm as the game went on.”

“Our goaltender was great tonight,” Capuano added. “He’s a guy who’s really focused and dialed in. He came up big for us when he had to and that’s what you ask your goaltender to do.”

With 14 regular-season games remaining, the Isles were understandably more pleased with themselves following a productive loss in Pittsburgh. They’ll now turn their attention to Thursday night’s game in Nashville, hoping to put more distance between themselves and the Penguins while continuing to apply pressure to the Rangers for the coveted second spot in the division.

“It would’ve been nice to get two [points], obviously,” Isles defenseman Travis Hamonic admitted.

“It’s a pretty obvious thing, but you get them the best way you can this year. You try to gather them and I think we battled hard, certainly. It’s not easy battling back in this building against a really good team.”