Justin Brazeau's late goal propels Penguins to 4-3 win over Islanders | iNFOnews.ca
Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby (87) celebrates after his goal with Evgeni Malkin (71) and Rickard Rakell (67) during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Islanders in Pittsburgh, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Justin Brazeau’s late goal propels Penguins to 4-3 win over Islanders

Original Publication Date: October 9, 2025 7:03PM
Publication Updated: October 10, 2025 5:04AM

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Justin Brazeau beat Ilya Sorokin on a breakaway with 5:39 left to lift the Pittsburgh Penguins past the New York Islanders 4-3 on Thursday night.

Brazeau collected a lead pass from Evgeni Malkin, then deked his way by a sprawled Sorokin as the Penguins won for the second time in as many games under first-year coach Dan Muse.

Malkin finished with three assists while Sidney Crosby added a goal and an assist. Rickard Rakell scored his first of the season for Pittsburgh.

Crosby’s second-period tally from one knee at the top of the crease off a short pass by Malkin gave him 626 goals in his career, broke a tie with Hall of Famers Jarome Iginla and Joe Sakic, and moved Crosby into 16th-place by himself on the NHL’s career list.

Pittsburgh rookie Harrison Brunicke became the first South African to score in the NHL when he beat Sorokin between the legs in the second period. Tristan Jarry finished with 34 saves, including a couple of key stops in the frantic final seconds.

Jonathan Drouin, Kyle Palmieri, and rookie Max Shabanov scored for the Islanders. Sorokin stopped 24 shots.

Islanders rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer, the top overall pick in this year’s draft, picked up the first point of his career when the 18-year-old set up a knuckler from the slot by Drouin just past the midway point of the opening period.

Schaefer, who had around 30 friends and family in the stands, played 17:15 while becoming the second youngest defenseman to make his NHL debut in the last 70 years. Schaefer hardly looked out of place and showcased his dazzling speed on a handful of occasions while racing through the neutral zone to jump into the play.

Up next

Islanders: Host Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals in their home opener on Saturday.

Penguins: Welcome former coach Mike Sullivan and the New York Rangers on Saturday.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Justin Brazeau's late goal propels Penguins to 4-3 win over Islanders | iNFOnews.ca
Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby (87) falls on New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (30) after being checked by Jonathan Drouin during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Justin Brazeau's late goal propels Penguins to 4-3 win over Islanders | iNFOnews.ca
New York Islanders’ Jonathan Drouin (29) celebrates after his goal with Matthew Schaefer (48) and Scott Mayfield (24) during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Justin Brazeau's late goal propels Penguins to 4-3 win over Islanders | iNFOnews.ca
Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry blocks a shot during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Islanders in Pittsburgh, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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