New York Islanders’ Adam Pelech (3) celebrates his game-winning goal in overtime with Kyle Palmieri (21) and Brock Nelson during an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. The Islanders won 5-4. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Adam Pelech found himself in an unusual position: on the ice in overtime, with plenty of room to work.
The New York Islanders defenseman didn’t let it go to waste, beating Alex Nedeljkovic with a wrist shot from the slot 57 seconds into the extra period to give New York a 5-4 win over the skidding Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday night.
Pelech hadn’t scored since last April but didn’t hesitate when Pittsburgh stars Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang opted not to challenge Pelech as he entered the zone. The nine-year veteran responded with a hard, low shot that beat Nedeljkovic over his right pad.
“Their (players) were kind of standing still,” Pelech said. “So I had lots of time. So I just fired it.”
Pelech’s 26th career goal in 473 career games helped the Islanders escape with two valuable points after Pittsburgh’s Valtteri Puustinen and Drew O’Connor scored 54 seconds apart in the third period to pull the Penguins even.
New York moved within four points of the second wild card in the Eastern Conference after improving to 4-3-3 since Patrick Roy replaced Lane Lambert as head coach a month ago. It also allowed the Islanders to recover after letting a three-goal lead slip away in a loss to the rival New York Rangers at the 2024 Stadium Series over the weekend.
“It’s a huge win,” Pelech said. “I think, looking at the standings this time of year, we kind of have to put together a streak here. It’s the only way we’re going to make up ground.”
Brock Nelson scored his 24th goal of the season for New York. Mathew Barzal, Simon Holmstrom, and Mike Reilly also scored for the Islanders. Ilya Sorokin, beaten soundly in his first two games against Pittsburgh this season, stopped 37…
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