The Pittsburgh Penguins kicked off their home slate in dramatic fashion Thursday night, edging the New York Islanders 4-3 in a back-and-forth contest at PPG Paints Arena. The win marked the second straight victory for the Penguins under new head coach Dan Muse, and it was fueled by a blend of veteran brilliance and rookie promise.
Evgeni Malkin set the tone early, scoring on a power play just over three minutes into the first period. After a rebound from Sidney Crosby’s shot landed in the slot, Malkin pounced with a slick backhand past Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin. Malkin wasn’t done there, he added two assists, including a pinpoint pass that set up the game-winning goal by Justin Brazeau late in the third period.
Sidney Crosby, entering his 20th season alongside Malkin, showcased his trademark tenacity and finesse. Midway through the second period, Crosby gave the Penguins a 3-2 lead with a power-play goal that saw him drop to one knee in the crease and deflect a pass from Malkin. The goal was Crosby’s 626th career tally, moving him past Hall of Famers Jarome Iginla and Joe Sakic into 16th place on the NHL’s all-time scoring list.
The night also belonged to rookie Harrison Brunicke, who etched his name into the history books by becoming the first South African to score in the NHL. Brunicke’s milestone moment came in the second period when he took a deft backhand pass from fellow rookie Filip Hallander and snapped a wrister through Sorokin’s legs to tie the game 2-2. It was the first NHL point for both Brunicke and Hallander, signaling a bright future for Pittsburgh’s youth movement.
Despite the Penguins’ offensive fireworks, the Islanders kept pace. Goals from Jonathan Drouin, Kyle Palmieri, and rookie Maxim Shabanov kept the game knotted heading into the final frame. But with just under six minutes remaining, Brazeau broke free on a breakaway, thanks to a lead pass from Malkin, and deked Sorokin for the decisive goal.
Goaltender Tristan Jarry was a steady force between the pipes, stopping 34 of 37 shots, including a crucial save in the final seconds to preserve the win. The Penguins now look ahead to hosting the New York Rangers on Saturday, while the Islanders return home to face Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals. If Thursday’s opener was any indication, the Penguins are poised for an electrifying season ahead.