PITTSBURGH - The New York Islanders took their giveaway idea a little too far. Because they did, the Pittsburgh Penguins no longer have to hear about yet another long losing streak.

The Islanders squandered a two-goal lead and wound up being tied by the last-place Penguins 3-3 Tuesday night, halting Pittsburgh's NHL-record 14-game home losing streak.

It wasn't a victory - the Penguins are winless in their last 15 home games - but the sigh of relief from their locker room probably could be heard across the arena in the Islanders' room. It was the first time since Dec. 29 the Penguins didn't lose on home ice.

"Obviously, it was a long streak, even if the only time we heard about it was from (the media)," said rookie goalie Andy Chiodo, who made 31 saves. "Now we don't have to answer all those questions about it, and there's a big weight off our shoulders."

Penguins defenseman Marc Bergevin ended a couple of streaks in the same night. His one-timer from the high slot sailed past Garth Snow early in the third period for his first goal in 101 games since Nov. 23, 2002, tying it at 3. It was only his 36th goal in 1,181 NHL games.

"It came right at me and I didn't even know it went in," the 38-year-old Bergevin said. "But I saw the replay, and it was a laser beam."

The Penguins are 2-1-1 since losing 18 in a row, with a victory and a tie over the Islanders in three days. Understandably, the Islanders weren't happy after squandering a chance to stretch what now is an eight-point lead over Florida for the Eastern Conference's final playoff spot.

"It pretty much feels like it was two losses (to Pittsburgh)," Mark Parrish said. "It doesn't feel like we got any points out of these games."

Earlier in the day, the Islanders announced they would give free tickets to the first two rounds of the playoffs to any fan who purchased season tickets for next season. Then, they went out and gave away a game they led 2-0 in the first period on goals by Jason Blake and Cliff Ronning.

"They didn't win it, we lost it. We gave it to them," said coach Steve Stirling, who talked as if his team had lost.

Maybe it was because it seemed like they did.

After Pittsburgh's Rico Fata scored late in the first, Parrish got his 14th goal to restore the two-goal lead. But Pittsburgh's Tom Kostopoulos scored short-handed on a rebound off the post with the Islanders on a four-minute power play late in the second.

"It sure was exciting, that's for sure," coach Eddie Olczyk said. "It's nice to get a point."

Blake, who scored his first goal in 14 games, was angry at being benched for the second period on a night he and linemates Parrish and Dave Scatchard combined for two goals and four points. Stirling sat Blake down for committing a turnover late in the first period.

"You know what? You make mistakes in this game," Blake said. "It didn't cost us anything. Our line was fired up and ready to go, and that's just unbelievable (to be benched). How many chances did we have?"

Notes: Chiodo is 2-3-1 since being recalled from

the minors, easily the best record of any Pittsburgh goalie. He was a seventh-round draft pick last summer, when the Penguins chose goalie Marc-Andre Fleury with the No. 1 pick. ... Until this season, no NHL team had lost more than 11 straight at home. ... The Islanders started Pittsburgh's home losing streak by beating them 6-1 on New Year's Eve. ... Josef Melichar's assist on Kostopoulos' goal was his first in 37 games, but Melichar's giveaway on a no-look, backhand pass led to Ronning's goal.

AP-ES-03-03-04 0452EST