On the other side: could the islanders really sweep the penguins?

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Are islanders destined for a sweep?

This is the issue that concerns you in New York after Friday night's 3-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins gave the Islanders a 2-0 lead in the Stanley Cup playoffs. The first round of the series in the first round passes from the Nassau Coliseum to the PPG Paints Arena for the third game on Sunday.

The Islanders have been in this position for more than 30 years.

"Their 2-0 playoff lead is their first since 1983, before any player dressed for them on Friday night was born," said Newsday columnist Neil Best.

Best wondered if it was their last game at the Nassau Coliseum this season. The Islanders use the Long Island Arena only for the first round. If they go forward, all the next rounds will be played at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

But he does not plan to scan yet.

"To be clear, this is not the way to bet, not against such a formidable opponent," wrote Best. "But the very fact that such a thing could be envisioned illustrates the last unlikely turn of an improbable season."

The style of play – chippy everywhere – sometimes resembled a game of the early 1980s, writes Brett Cyrgalis, sports writer at the New York Post, with "small cross checks, seizure of jerseys, the post-season. "

The Penguins have delivered a more physical game, but that has become counterproductive, wrote sports columnist Newday Andrew Gross.

"The Penguins have made it clear from the beginning of the match that they want to match the Islanders' physical game in the first game, unless it entails three power play opportunities for the Islanders in the first period." , writes Gross.

The Islanders had six power games in all.

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Mathew Barzal provoked a scrum and himself imposed a double punishment for having abused the defender of the Penguins, Marcus Pettersson, in the second period. Pettersson took Barzal to the net after Anthony Beauvillier's equalizer and Barzal responded with a counter-check.

Later, after watching the retransmission, Barzal saw the room differently.

"I've probably overreacted," Barzal told Colin Stephenson of Newsday. "I saw the shot, after. I thought I was in a bad position, but he gave up, and it was actually a safe game. "

The Islanders heroes of the first game were back for the second. Josh Bailey and Jordan Eberle each scored for the second game in a row, and Barzal added two more assists.

It's Bailey who scored the game-winning goal, and the Islanders fans are singing his praises – literally.

According to Laura Albanese of Newsday, fans sing "Hey, Josh Bailey" on the air of "Hey Baby".

This time, Bailey's goal in the third period gave the Islanders something to breathe.

"I want to know how you scored that goal."

Chris Harlan is an editor of Tribune-Review. You can contact Chris via Twitter .




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