The New York Islanders opened their back-to-back set with a win last night, defeating the New Jersey Devils 4-3 in overtime.
The notable lineup change for the Islanders came with Patrick Roy shifting Oliver Wahlstrom up to the third line, and moving Casey Cizikas back down to the fourth line.
First Period
New York looked great to start the game, with Brock Nelson deflecting a point shot from Adam Pelech past Jake Allen, only a little over a minute into the game.
A power play opportunity then followed shortly after for New York, but they couldn’t convert. The Islanders did keep pressing through the first half of the period, with some great chances for both Bo Horvat and Jean-Gabriel Pageau, but neither could beat Allen.
However, with about eight minutes to go, New York couldn’t exit the zone and the Devils took advantage, with Nico Hischier taking a pass from Jesper Bratt to tie the game.
But only a little over two minutes after the Devils tied it and with the Islanders on another power play, Anders Lee got to a rebound to beat Allen, putting the Islanders back ahead.
So after a good first period where New York outshot the Devils 13-8 in the frame, the Islanders took the lead to intermission.
Second Period
We then saw a heavyweight fight early in the second period between Scott Mayfield and Kurtis MacDermid, following a big hit on Alexander Romanov. Mayfield ended up getting the extra penalty to put New Jersey on the power play, but it was Kyle MacLean who had not one, but two good shorthanded chances on the Devils’ man advantage.
Shortly after the Islanders killed off the penalty though, Curtis Lazar took a pass from Paul Cotter to beat Ilya Sorokin (who never even saw it), tying the game.
However, a little over midway through the frame, Kyle Palmieri managed to deflect an Alexander Romanov shot past Allen, putting the Islanders back ahead.
Dawson Mercer did have a breakaway chance with five minutes to go on a chance to tie it, but he was stopped by Sorokin. The teams traded some power play chances in the final minutes of the second period, and the Devils had some great chances late, but the Islanders held on to keep the lead through 40 minutes.
Third Period
The Devis ended up outplaying New York through the third period though, outshooting New York 11-4 in the frame. The Islanders did have a power play chance nearing the midway mark of the frame with a great chance to extend the lead, but couldn’t capitalize.
Then with New York just trying to hold the lead in the final few minutes and the Devils’ net empty, Jesper Bratt managed to bury a puck at the side of the net, tying the game at 3-3 and sending it to overtime, as the Islanders once again surrendered a late goal to blow a lead.
Overtime
The Devils had some excellent chances only 10 seconds into the extra frame, with Nico Hischier hitting the crossbar. But then with the Islanders taking possession, still in the first minute of overtime, Mathew Barzal put a pass over to Bo Horvat, who one-timed a shot past Allen to give the Islanders the win and extra point.
Takeaways
It’s a big win for the Islanders to get back above .500, against a very capable divisional rival.
In terms of the positives, it was a great first period for the Islanders, where they really outchanced New Jersey. The Islanders also managed to convert on the power play, after a stretch of about eight power play opportunities where they not only didn’t score, but also couldn’t get much going.
It also marks two straight wins for New York in games that have gone past regulation, going back to the shootout win against Montreal. For a team who so often squandered points in overtime and shootouts last year, it’s a positive sign.
We also saw a sequence that really highlighted Alexander Romanov's impact: he took the huge hit from Kurtis MacDermid, but then got right back out on the ice and kept playing his game, levelling Jack Hughes with a big hit of his own, before then picking up an assist on the Kyle Palmieri goal.
At the same time, the Islanders lost momentum over the course of the game, and kind of just tried to protect the lead as the third period went on. Then of course yet again, they failed to protect a late lead, and gave up the tying goal in the last two minutes of the game. At this point, it would actually be more surprising if the Islanders were able to protect a one-goal lead in the final minutes of regulation. It also doesn’t help that they’re giving up points to a team within their division.
Barzal and Horvat may have connected for the winning goal, but the top line itself also had a quiet night. Not having Anthony Duclair on the wing really does hurt the line’s ability to generate offense, as expected.
Still, it’s a big win on the road, against a good opponent. The Islanders will be right back in action tonight, when they host the Florida Panthers.
OTHER ARTICLES FROM OCTOBER
- Can the Islanders take a step forward this season?
- Islanders announce roster, Pierre Engvall clears waivers
- Islanders lose back-and-forth season opener, fall 5-4 to Utah in overtime
- Islanders begin road trip with shutout loss to Stars
- Islanders score six goals, take down Avalanche for first win of season
- Islanders wrap up road trip with overtime loss to Blues
- Islanders beat Canadiens in marathon shootout, but Duclair injured in win
- Islanders outplay Red Wings, but suffer another shutout loss
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