Hunwick’s first goal lifts Pens to overtime win

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

Penguins defenseman Matt Hunwick made a decision to gamble in overtime.

Hunwick jumped up to join the play and created an odd-man situation for Pittsburgh that led to the winning goal.

Hunwick scored 1:29 into overtime, lifting the Penguins over the New York Islanders 4-3 on Thursday night.

“I saw one of their guys changing, so it was a chance to create a 3-on-2,” Hunwick said after his first NHL overtime goal. “You hope you score there because if I had to go back down the ice and play defense again, I’d probably be pretty tired.”

Pittsburgh led 3-1 in the third period, but the Islanders tied it with goals in the final 4:53. Hunwick salvaged a victory with his third of the season by pushing one in during a scramble in front of the net, created by Bryan Rust’s initial drive to the goal.

“[Rust] just got it to the net and I was able to bang in the rebound,” Hunwick said.

Phil Kessel got his team-leading 14th goal on a power play, and Jake Guentzel and Riley Sheahan also scored for Pittsburgh. Rookie Tristan Jarry made 23 saves for the Penguins, who have won five of six since a three-game losing streak.

Jordan Eberle got his 12th goal for New York, and Mathew Barzal and Brock Nelson each got their eighth in the third period. Nelson tied it with 1:10 left.

Jaroslav Halak stopped 28 shots for New York, which has lost three of four since a four-game winning streak.

The Islanders nearly won for the ninth time in 12 games, but Jarry made a stick save on Josh Bailey during a breakaway in overtime.

“It was a good road game,” Eberle said. “Going into the third with a 1-1 game, they make it 3-1 and we battled back. It was a weird game in that aspect, but I guess you can salvage a point and be happy about that.”