Kris Letang made history as the first defenseman in NHL history to record five assists in one period, leading the Pittsburgh Penguins to a commanding 7-0 victory over the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on Wednesday. Letang’s record-setting performance fueled the Penguins’ explosive six-goal second period and he added another assist in the third, tying the NHL record for most assists in a game by a defenseman.
Jake Guentzel and Evgeni Malkin were pivotal in the win, with Guentzel netting two goals and an assist and Malkin scoring twice. Marcus Pettersson also shined with four assists. Tristan Jarry’s 22 saves ensured his league-leading fourth shutout of the season.
The Penguins, now on a four-game point streak (3-0-1), took control in the second period. Rickard Rakell opened the scoring, followed by Guentzel’s back-to-back goals, including one just 12 seconds after a New York timeout. Malkin then added two more, with Radim Zohorna capping off the period’s scoring. Valtteri Puustinen’s first NHL goal in the third period rounded off the scoring.
The Islanders’ goalie Ilya Sorokin conceded six goals on 25 shots before being replaced by Semyon Varlamov in the third. The Islanders, experiencing a loss in form with four losses in six games (2-2-2), struggled to match Pittsburgh’s intensity.
The Penguins’ outstanding performance was marked by their first six-goal period on the road since 2000, also against the Islanders. Letang’s historic night and the team’s overall dominance highlighted their potential as they look ahead to the remainder of the season.
