Tavares’ 2 goals lift Isles-Penguins series into 2-2 tie

UNIONDALE, N.Y. — John Tavares scored his second goal of the game with 9:49 left, and the New York Islanders tied their first-round series with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday night with a wild 6-4 victory.

Only the final lead was safe in Game 4.

Tavares slammed in his own rebound in front after Brad Boyes fed him following a turnover by Penguins star Evgeni Malkin. It was the Islanders’ third one-goal advantage in the game and the one that earned them a 2-2 tie in the highly entertaining series that has featured 5-4 and 6-4 finishes at Nassau Coliseum.

Tavares was serenaded with cheers of “M-V-P” from the frantic crowd that is believing an upset is possible. Casey Cizikas shoved in a shot with 1:16 left to add some much-needed insurance.

Brian Strait, captain Mark Streit, and Kyle Okposo also had goals, and Evgeni Nabokov made 27 saves for the eighth-seeded Islanders.