Penguins enter uncertain offseason after being eliminated by Islanders

UNIONDALE, N.Y. — A favorite idiom of Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan is “high stakes.”

He refers to it often when he evaluates his players and how they perform in “high-stakes” games.

On Wednesday, the Penguins played in a game with the highest of stakes.

Survival.

They were unable to ante up what was necessary to keep their season going as they fell to the New York Islanders, 5-3, at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Game 6 of their first-round series. The Islanders claimed the series 4-2, whereas the Penguins entered another uncertain offseason.

“You work so hard all year long for the opportunity to compete for the Stanley Cup,” Sullivan said via video conference. “That’s what we’re all in it for. That’s why it stings. Because you care so much. I know this group of players cares, I know how hard our coaching staff works as well and the care factor that goes into trying to put this team into trying to put this team into the best position possible.

“It stings. It hurts.”

Further discomfort could be coming in the ensuing weeks or months. With general manager Ron Hextall and president of hockey operations Brian Burke entering their first offseason with the organization, they aren’t likely to maintain the status quo for a franchise that has failed to win a postseason round since 2018.

“There’s so many parts, and it is a business,” captain Sidney Crosby said. “So, that’s up to other people. As far as what I can see and how I feel, there’s zero doubt in my mind that the group that we have is a really good group. We had an opportunity here, and that’s why it stings so much.”

The Penguins took a lead 1 minute, 27 seconds into regulation thanks to forward Jeff Carter’s team-leading fourth goal of the postseason, but the Islanders responded at 5:16 of the first when Beauvillier skated past Crosby and beat beleaguered goaltender Tristan Jarry with a backhander for his third goal.

A power-play goal by forward Jake Guentzel, his first of the playoffs, put the Penguins back in front 2-1 at 11:12 of the first.

The Islanders persisted and tied the score 2-2 at 12:25 when forward Kyle Palmieri collected his third score by cleaning up a rebound.

Penguins forward Jason Zucker scored his second of the postseason 1:53 into the second period to put his team up 3-2.

Goals by Islanders forward Brock Nelson — his second at 8:35 of the middle frame — and defenseman Ryan Pulock — his second 13 seconds later — gave the hosts a lead for good. Nelson scored again at 11:34 to secure victory.

Jarry, who entered the game under heavy scrutiny after a puck-handling gaffe cost his team in a double-overtime loss during Game 5 on Monday, did little to silence detractors as he allowed five goals on only 24 shots.

For the series, Jarry had a 3.18 goals-against average and a dismal save percentage of .888.

“You win game games as a team,” Sullivan said when asked about his goaltending. “You lose games as a team.”

What this team will look like when training camp convenes in four months is anyone’s guess.

“There’s some really disappointed guys in that room,” Carter said. “This year was a really good opportunity for this group and, unfortunately, we came up short here.”