Penguins blow pair of 2-goal leads in 5-4 loss to Islanders

ELMONT, N.Y. — The Penguins on Friday got an opportunity to leave the pesky New York Islanders in their dust in the Eastern Conference wild-card race.

Thanks to a pair of goals from Rickard Rakell, they twice led by two in the second period, only to allow the Islanders to rally back to tie it up during the third.

Zach Parise’s late goal completed the Penguins’ collapse at UBS Arena. They left here stunned after a 5-4 loss that could have major ramifications in April.