Islanders Grind Way to Massive OT Win over Canadiens

ELMONT, N.Y. — The New York Islanders (32-28-8) blew a massive opportunity on Thursday night in UBS Arena. Facing off with the current wild-card holding Montreal Canadiens (33-27-8), the Islanders blew a 3-1 third-period lead. Despite that, New York recovered for the win in overtime courtesy of Bo Horvat’s winner. Horvat scored twice in the playoff-style victory.

The win would not have been possible without Ilya Sorokin. Simply put, Sorokin was sensational. He made 38 saves in the victory. Oh, and he recorded two assists, just for good measure. The Islanders needed a big game from their superstar goalie, and that’s exactly what they got.

The Islanders’ power play went 2/3, with Anthony Duclair and Simon Holmstrom netting the strikes with the man advantage.

For Montreal, Joshua Roy scored his first of the season in the first period. Then, during their comeback in the third, Patrik Laine and Brendan Gallagher netted the big goals in the third period. Sam Montembeault made 21 saves in the defeat.

The win moves the Islanders up to 9th place in the Eastern Conference, two points behind the Canadiens.

First Period:

The game started as most have recently. The Canadiens came out hard, with speed, and surged to an early edge, registering the first four shots of the game. Then, Brendan Gallagher took an unnecessary slashing penalty just 3:50 into the game.

On that man advantage, Duclair made them pay. Anders Lee made the play happen when he bodied Alexandre Carrier off the puck and quickly fed Duclair in front. The quick writer squeaked past Montembeault for a 1-0 New York lead.

After that, Adam Pelech took an interference call, and the momentum flipped for the rest of the period. Montreal surged and peppered pucks on Sorokin. Ilya stood tall until a Jayden Struble shot came through a crowd. Joshua Roy picked up the loose change and tapped it into the net to even the game 11:58 into the first.

As the period wound down, Anders Lee took a tripping penalty. Again, the Islanders kill did their job, with obvious help from Sorokin. In total, the shots in the first finished 15-6, and even that flattered the Islanders.

Second Period:

The Islanders, needing momentum, received a gift to open up the second. Gallagher took his second penalty of the game and sent New York to the power play just 31 seconds into the period. It marked a perfect opportunity to try and wrestle control away from the pesky Habs.

Instead, they generated nothing, and Noah Dobson took an obvious interference penalty. From that moment on, it became the Montreal show. They took over, and just after their third power play expired, Nick Suzuki snuck behind the defense and buried a breakaway to put Montreal up 2-1.

Or so the Habs thought. Instead, the Islanders and Patrick Roy challenged for offsides. By about the length of a centipede’s leg, Suzuki was offside. No goal.

Late in the period, Mike Matheson took an obvious hold. On that power play, Holmstrom scored an absolutely jaw-dropping one-timer that put New York ahead 2-1. The goal marked just the fourth time all season that the Islanders scored two power-play goals in one game.

That lead held into the third.

Third Period:

The Islanders needed to hang on to their lead in a must-win game against the Canadiens, who they’re chasing down for the final card spot. The team knew it and they came out harder than they had for the previous two periods.

Dobson sprung Horvat just 2:31 into the third. With a gust of wind behind Horvat, he chipped one in off Montembeault’s blocker. The goal gave the Islanders a massive 3-1 lead with just 17:29 to go.

From that moment on, the Islanders regressed into old form. Kyle MacLean took an obvious trip less than two minutes after Horvat’s marker. Horvat shanked a clearance right to Suzuki. Suzuki slipped it to Patrik Laine, who slapped it into a yawning cage.

Roy again challenged for goalie interference as Juraj Slafkovsky made contact with Sorokin, but it felt risky at best. After a relatively quick review, the goal stood, and the Islanders went right back to the kill. Again, the special teams came up big for the Islanders. They got the kill and weathered the storm.

Montreal pressured, but Sorokin stood tall. All until Jean-Gabriel Pageau made a fatal error. He attempted a blind, soft pass across the Habs blue. Gallagher laughed as he intercepted and raced away with a long breakaway. Mike Reilly tried to chase him down but tripped over himself. Gallagher quickly beat Sorokin over the glove.

Just like that, in a game they termed “the biggest of the year,” the Islanders blew a multi-goal third-period lead. The Islanders pushed but could not regain the lead. They handed Montreal a point.

Overtime:

In overtime, the teams traded some glancing blows before the strike happened.

Anthony DeAngelo sprung Horvat and Kyle Palmieri for a two-on-one. Horvat ripped home the winner to send the fans home happy and give the Islanders an absolutely massive victory.

The Islanders return to action Saturday afternoon against the Calgary Flames at 4 o’clock.