Holmstrom scores go
NEW YORK (AP) — Simon Holmstrom scored the go-ahead goal in the third period, Ilya Sorokin stopped Sidney Crosby on a late penalty shot and the playoff-bound New York Islanders edged the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-4 on Wednesday night.
Samuel Bolduc and Brock Nelson each had a goal and an assist, and Casey Cizikas and Kyle Palmieri also scored for the Islanders, who ended the regular season having won eight of their last nine (8-0-1). Ruslan Iskhakov had his first NHL assist in his debut.
Sorokin finished with 39 saves, including one on Crosby in the final minute when the Penguins were awarded a penalty shot.
“It’s like a dream,” Sorokin said. “Good moment for me.”
The Islanders, who finished third in the Metropolitan Division, open the playoffs Saturday at Carolina.
“Playoffs are always another level, a different animal,” Nelson said. “They (Carolina) have a great team. They’ve been playing great all year.”