Playoffs by period: Paging Sidney Crosby — Penguins' top line remains pointless

UNIONDALE, N.Y. —

THIRD PERIOD: Islanders 3, Penguins 1

This tells you everything you need to know about the way this first-round series is going at Nassau Coliseum:

Jordan Eberle and Josh Bailey have scored two goals each.

Sidney Crosby has none.

Crosby came into these Stanley Cup playoffs with 66 goals in 161 postseason games, yet hasn’t come close to scoring for the Penguins. In fact, he has more penalties than points.

Eberle had never scored a playoff goal, but scored the first goal of Game 1 and the go-ahead goal on a beautiful backhand to give the Islanders a 2-1 lead at 7:54 of the third period.

Bailey scored the winner in overtime in Game 1. He scored his sixth career postseason goal on a rebound at 11:38 to give the Islanders a 3-1 lead.

That the Penguins are still awaiting their first points from their captain and his teammates on the top line is a problem.

Not as big as returning to Pittsburgh trailing in the series, 2-0, but the storylines have switched. Last year, they couldn’t get any production from their bottom-six forwards.

This time, they can’t get any points from their first line.

GAME 2 POSTGAME POLL: We'll keep this simple. How's this gonna go after the #Isles took the first two from the #Pens?

— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) April 13, 2019

SECOND PERIOD: Penguins 1, Islanders 1

The big question for the Penguins was how they would play with a lead against the Islanders and whether it would take the Nassau Coliseum crowd out of the game.

For the first five periods of this first-round series – including overtime in Game 1 – the Penguins never had the chance. The Islanders either had the lead or the game was tied.

Then defenseman Erik Gudbranson gave them a 1-0 edge at 10:36 of the second period and we would soon find out.

The answer: It wouldn’t last long.

The Penguins’ lead lasted less than three minutes. Matt Murray stopped Mathew Barzal on a two-on-one breakaway, but Anthony Beauvillier found the puck in the crease for a tap in to tie it at 1-1 at 13:25.

If that goal didn’t energize Islanders fans, what happened next did. Barzal took exception to Penguins defenseman Marcus Pettersson’s hit behind the net and a brawl broke out. Barzal got a double minor for causing the fracas, giving the Penguins a power play.

By then, Islanders fans were going wild.

So the Penguins lost the lead, the momentum and a chance to quiet the crowd all on one play.

FIRST PERIOD: Penguins 0, Islanders 0

The Penguins did a good job keeping the puck out of their zone.

They just couldn’t keep their players out of the penalty box.

The Penguins used a north-south transition game to keep the Islanders in their own end and quiet the boisterous Nassau Coliseum crowd in the first period of Game 1.

That strategy was successful, despite a couple of early icing calls. And it was important, given how the Islanders came out for the first five minutes of Game 1 like they were shot out of a cannon.

But penalties soon became a problem for the Penguins.

Evgeni Malkin was called for hooking, Jack Johnson for high-sticking and, as soon as he came out of the box, again for interference after his blue-line collision that sent Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech spinning to the ice.

The beautiful game pic.twitter.com/5ATGDmfycN

— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) April 13, 2019

That meant more pressure on goalie Matt Murray, as the Islanders had three power-play opportunities but went 0 for 3. The Penguins got a break when Islanders captain Anders Lee got a hooking penalty only 1:05 into the third power play.

The game – and this series – is starting to get chippy. That Malkin was in the middle of some of the scrums could be a positive development for the Penguins, as he is playing inspired hockey. So long as he doesn’t get out of control.

Keep up with the Pittsburgh Penguins all season long.