Pens’ home winning streak ends

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

The Pittsburgh Penguins admit they have a tendency to get so enamored with their own firepower they forget to do the little things.

Like, say, play defense.

Sometimes they can get away with it. Tuesday night wasn’t one of those times.

Frans Nielsen scored twice and the New York Islanders broke a 13-game losing streak in Pittsburgh with a 5-3 win, effectively counterattacking when the Penguins got a little too aggressive.

“We got what we deserved tonight,” Pittsburgh center Sidney Crosby said.

Michael Grabner, David Ullstrom and Kyle Okposo also scored, and Josh Bailey had three assists to help the Islanders end Pittsburgh’s 10-game home winning streak with ease. “It’s good to know we can win in this building,” Nielsen said.

The Islanders never had in their previous trips to Consol Energy Center. They hadn’t won in the Steel City since Dec. 21, 2007 when the Penguins were playing across the street in the Civic Arena.

James Neal scored twice for the Penguins — who lost despite outshooting the Islanders 54-25 — and Tyler Kennedy added a goal while Evgeni Malkin had two assists to push his point total to an NHL-leading 99.

Marc-Andre Fleury gave up five goals on 18 shots before being replaced in the third by Brad Thiessen. Fleury was shaken up after colliding with teammate Paul Martin during Nielsen’s second goal but said he should be OK when the teams meet again on Thursday.