The New York Islanders, led by center Mathew Barzal, face the Pittsburgh Penguins, led by center Sidney Crosby, in game 6 of their NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs first round series at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York, on Wednesday, May 26, 2021 (5/26/21).
Fans can watch the game for free via a trial of fuboTV.
The Islanders lead the series, 3-2, after winning Game 5, 3-2, in overtime on Monday.
Here’s what you need to know:
What: NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, Round 1, Game 6
Who: Penguins vs. Islanders
When: Wednesday, May 26, 2021
Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
Where: Nassau Coliseum
TV: NBCSN
Channel finder: Verizon Fios, AT&T U-verse, Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice, Cox, DIRECTV, Dish, Hulu, fuboTV, Sling.
Live stream: fuboTV (free trial)
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The New York Islanders spent the better part of four periods hanging on thanks largely to the sheer brilliance of rookie goaltender Ilya Sorokin.
They needed just 51 seconds of the fifth to stun the Penguins, with a major assist from Pittsburgh netminder Tristan Jarry.
Jarry’s ill-advised clearing attempt early in the second overtime went right to New York forward Josh Bailey, who raced in to score the winner and give the Islanders a 3-2 victory in Game 5 and a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.
“At first, I was just trying to settle (the puck) down and wanted to get a good shot off,” Bailey said. “Ultimately, I ran out of time and tried to let one go and happy to see it go in.”
New York can close out the East Division champions on Wednesday night in Long Island, a prospect that seemed improbable for long stretches of a regulation the Penguins dominated.
Sorokin, the 25-year-old Russian, is now 3-0 in the series and hardly seems rattled by the stage. Steady throughout and spectacular when the moment required, Sorokin kept Pittsburgh at bay long enough for his teammates to find a way.
“It all goes on Ilya,” Islanders coach Barry Trotz said. “We don’t have a chance if he doesn’t have an outstanding game in the first two periods, either.”
Sorokin stopped 48 shots, a franchise playoff record for a rookie goaltender, and appears to have New York’s goalie situation settled for however long the Islanders last. He started Game 1 when veteran Semyon Varlamov was unavailable, then took a seat as Varlamov took the loss in Games 2 and 3. Trotz turned to Sorokin for Game 4 and he has responded by allowing just three goals over the last seven-plus periods.
“Ilya was playing great and a real backbone for us,” Bailey said. “(He) gave us confidence we were going to get the job done.”
Anthony Beauvillier scored in the first period on a brilliant rush and Jordan Eberle beat an out-of-position Jarry midway through the third period to pull New York even. Bailey’s third — and quite possibly easiest — goal of the playoffs allowed the Islanders to take control of the series.
“As far as character, if you don’t have it, you’re not going to find a way to win,” Bailey said. “We have lots in that room.”
Evgeni Malkin scored his first postseason goal in more than two years for the Penguins. Bryan Rust added his second of the series. Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby picked up assist on Rust’s tally to move past Hall of Famer Brett Hull and into seventh-place on the NHL’s career playoff scoring list.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)