Guentzel helps Penguins defeat Islanders, clinch playoff berth

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Penguins clinched a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 6-3 win against the New York Islanders at PPG Paints Arena on Thursday.

Pittsburgh has qualified for the playoffs in 16 straight seasons, the longest active streak in the NHL.
"I think it's a remarkable accomplishment," Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. "It's hard to make the playoffs. Half of the League doesn't make it every year. … There's a lot of good teams every season that don't make it. The fact that this organization has done it 16 consecutive years in a row, in my mind, is a remarkable achievement."

Jake Guentzel had two goals and two assists, Sidney Crosby had a goal and two assists, and Tristan Jarry made 36 saves for the Penguins (43-22-11), who moved within five points of the New York Rangers for second place in the Metropolitan Division; Pittsburgh, which is 2-0-1 in its past three, has played one more game.
"I think if we focus on our own game and trying to accomplish what we want, that's going to give us the result," Penguins defenseman Kris Letang said. "I think it's just a question of keep getting better every day. Try to correct little things in our plans going into games."
Zdeno Chara scored his first goal of the season, and Ilya Sorokin made 22 saves for the Islanders (34-30-9), who have lost three of five.
"[The Penguins are] a team you can't trade chances with," New York coach Barry Trotz said. "You have to execute. When you don't, they can jump on you. So, they do."

Letang gave Pittsburgh a 1-0 lead at 4:59 of the first period with a wrist shot from the point past a screen from Guentzel. It was Letang's eighth goal of the season and second in his past 26 games.
Danton Heinen made it 2-0 at 8:52 on a breakaway just after exiting the penalty box. Brian Boyle sent a stretch pass from Pittsburgh's zone to Heinen, who scored on a wrist shot.
Zach Parise cut it to 2-1 at 5:51 of the second period on a one-timer from Mathew Barzal.
Guentzel made it 3-1 at 12:10 on a 2-on-1 with Crosby.
The Islanders outshot the Penguins 19-5 in the second.
"We understood that there was a lot of hockey left," New York captain Anders Lee said. "I think we did have a couple chances in the first that gave us enough life to keep building on. It's one of those games against one of these teams, we're in it all the way until the end. You saw that tonight. We just settled in and played our game better the rest of the last 40."

Crosby gave Pittsburgh a 4-1 lead at 10:44 of the third period on a 2-on-0 with Guentzel. Crosby has eight points (three goals, five assists) in his past three games.
"Every year is a challenge," Crosby said. "You need so many things to go right to give yourself an opportunity to play in the playoffs. It's not given to you. To see how tight the League is, it's not easy. So, you appreciate those opportunities."
Lee cut it to 4-2 at 17:23, but Brock McGinn scored an empty-net goal 36 seconds later at 17:59 to make it 5-2.
Chara scored his first goal in 109 games with a slap shot at 18:52 to make it 5-3, but Guentzel scored an empty-net goal with 10 seconds left for the 6-3 final.
It was Chara's first goal with New York since Jan. 12, 2001, also at Pittsburgh. The defenseman turned 45 on March 18.
"I'm not going to lie, it's always nice to score a goal in the National Hockey League," Chara said. "Obviously, I had way too many opportunities where I kind of hit a crossbar or post this season. It finally went in, (it's) just too bad it wasn't earlier or a better time in the game. Hopefully, the next one is going to help us win a hockey game."
NOTES:Guentzel had two goals and an assist, and Crosby had two assists in a 5-4 shootout loss at the Islanders on Tuesday. … The Penguins' playoff streak began in 2006-07, when Crosby was in his second season, and forward Evgeni Malkin was a rookie. … Pittsburgh forwards Bryan Rust and Evan Rodrigues each played after leaving the game Tuesday with non-COVID-19 illnesses. Rust had one shot on goal in 18:54 of ice time; Rodrigues had two in 7:35… New York forward Kieffer Bellows had two shots and six hits in 11:31 in his first game since March 31, replacing Oliver Wahlstrom (healthy scratch). Bellows had an illness Tuesday, when Trotz said he originally considered making the change. … The Islanders went 0-for-5 on the power play.