It took the bare minimum for the New York Islanders to eliminate their division rival Pittsburgh Penguins , knocking off Sidney Crosby and Co. in four games with a 3-1 victory Tuesday night.
Jordan Eberle , Brock Nelson and Josh Bailey each added a goal, while Robin Lehner made 32 saves in the winning effort.
The Islanders will face the winner of the Washington Capitals -Carolina Hurricanes first-round series.
It's been an excellent season for the Islanders, who were expected by some to struggle after losing John Tavares during free agency. Led by standout campaigns from Lehner and forward Mathew Barzal , the Islanders exceeded expectations, posting a 48-27-7 record during the regular season.
Perhaps the most significant reason why the Islanders cruised to the second round is head coach Barry Trotz, whose defensive system is clearly paying dividends for the Islanders. New York surrendered a league-worst 296 goals during the 2017-18 season but after hiring Trotz – who steered the Washington Capitals to the Stanley Cup last year – the team allowed a NHL-best 196 goals this season.
Trott clearly has the Penguins' number, too, and the Islanders ought to be well-rested ahead of their second-round matchup.
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