Penguins Roar Back with Seven Unanswered Goals to Defeat Islanders

Anthony Mantha's two goals and an assist lead Pittsburgh's comeback win over New York.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 5:59am

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The Pittsburgh Penguins overcame a 3-1 deficit with seven unanswered goals, including a five-goal second period, to claim an 8-3 victory over the New York Islanders on Monday night in Elmont, New York. Anthony Mantha scored twice and added an assist to lead the Penguins' comeback effort.

Why it matters

The win moves the Penguins (37-21-16, 90 points) ahead of the Islanders (42-28-5, 89 points) for second place in the Metropolitan Division, further tightening the playoff race in the Eastern Conference.

The details

After the Islanders jumped out to a 3-1 lead early in the second period, the Penguins stormed back with seven unanswered goals. Rickard Rakell scored twice, including a short-handed goal, while Bryan Rust, Elmer Soderblom, Ryan Shea, Avery Hayes, and Sidney Crosby (two assists) also contributed to the offensive outburst. Penguins goaltender Arturs Silovs made 20 saves to secure the victory.

  • The Penguins scored five goals in the second period to take a 5-3 lead.
  • Pittsburgh added three more goals in the third period to pull away for the 8-3 win.

The players

Anthony Mantha

A forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins who scored two goals and added an assist in the comeback win.

Rickard Rakell

A forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins who scored two goals, including a short-handed tally, in the victory.

Sidney Crosby

The captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins who collected two assists in his return to the lineup after missing the previous game due to a lower-body injury.

Mathew Barzal

A forward for the New York Islanders who scored a goal and added an assist in the losing effort.

Ilya Sorokin

The starting goaltender for the New York Islanders who surrendered seven goals on 28 shots before being pulled from the game.

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What they’re saying

“We knew we had to dig deep and find a way to get back into this game. The guys showed a lot of character to battle back and take control.”

— Mike Sullivan, Head Coach, Pittsburgh Penguins

“It's a tough one to swallow, but we have to put this behind us and focus on the next one. We had our chances, but they capitalized on their opportunities and we didn't.”

— Barry Trotz, Head Coach, New York Islanders

What’s next

The Penguins will look to build on this comeback win as they continue their push for a playoff spot, while the Islanders will aim to rebound in their next game.

The takeaway

This game showcased the Penguins' resilience and offensive firepower, as they were able to erase a multi-goal deficit with a dominant second-period performance. The result tightens the Metropolitan Division playoff race, setting the stage for an exciting finish to the regular season.