NHL News: Sidney Crosby voices very honest admission to Mike Sullivan after Penguins’ critical loss vs Islanders

The Pittsburgh Penguins dropped a critical game against the New York Islanders amid their race for the playoffs in the 2024-25 NHL season. The Penguins are now seven points behind the second wildcard berth, with just 12 games left. After the deflating loss, captain Sidney Crosby made something clear about the Pens’ performanceto head coach Mike Sullivan.

The Penguins fell victim to the Islanders’ recent modus operandi in the NHL. After jumping to an early 2-0 lead, Pittsburgh was unable to secure the two points, conceding four unanswered goals. It was the Isles’ second 4-2 win after rallying from a 2-0 deficit in as many games, having pulled off the same comeback against the Florida Panthers.

The 4-2 loss at home is particularly sensitive for Crosby and the Penguins, as the team’s four-game win streak came to an end in unexpected fashion. With their postseason hopes in tatters, seemingly unrepairable, Crosby didn’t sugarcoat his thoughts after the game.

“We just beat ourselves,” Penguins captain Sydney Crosby admitted, via NHL.com. “We made some mistakes. Obviously, they’re going to push… but there just wasn’t a lot of pushback [from us].”

Pittsburgh Penguins Head Coach Mike Sullivan answers questions during an interview after the First Round Stanley Cup Playoff game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers on April 18, 2018 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA.

Sullivan comments on team’s attitude

It may sound like a cliché, but it hasn’t become any less true: 2-0 is the most dangerous lead in the NHL, and the Penguins learned that once again. Coach Sullivan delivered a harsh message to his players after they took their foot off the pedal during the third period against the Islanders.

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“It’s just playing a game with not a whole lot of purpose,” head coach Mike Sullivan stated. “So, we give up an easy goal to start the third period, and it gives them life, it gives them juice.

“It’s still a 2-1 game. We still have a lead. We’ve got to respond. We got to respond and play the right way, and we didn’t. We gave up odd-man rushes. We didn’t stay on the right side of people. We weren’t physical enough in all three zones. We didn’t close on people in the defensive zone. We just didn’t play hard enough.”

Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins arrives for the game against the New York Islanders at the UBS Arena on December 27, 2022 in Elmont, New York.

Litmus test

After the Penguins’ four-game unbeaten run came to an end, Crosby and the team will look to get back in the win column during their matchup with Metro Division opponent the Columbus Blue Jackets, which will close out their five-game homestand.