Islanders Roar Back in 3rd (Again), Defeat Penguins 4-3 (OT)

PITTSBURGH — The New York Islanders looked lost for most of their game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, but another third-period comeback gave New York a monumental 4-3 overtime win.

The Islanders are now 34-25-8 and hold a two-point lead over Penguins for the top wild-card spot.

LINES

Anders Lee-Bo Horvat-Pierre Engvall
Zach Parise-Brock Nelson-Kyle Palmieri
Matt Martin-Casey Cizikas-Hudson Fasching
Simon Holmstrom-Otto Koivula-Josh Bailey

Adam Pelech-Scott Mayfield
Alexander Romanov-Ryan Pulock
Sebastian Aho-Noah Dobson

Ilya Sorokin
Semyon Varlamov

RAPID RECAP

In the opening five minutes of the game, the New York Islanders were a bit sloppy in their breakouts and were being outshot 4-2. However, an Evgeni Malkin interference penalty gave the Islanders a strong opportunity to take an early lead in this pivotal wild-card matchup.

And that they did as after Bo Horvat was stopped by Penguins netminder Tristan Jarry, he quickly found Anders Lee at the front post, who got just enough of it to give New York a 1-0 lead at 5:03 of the first. Kyle Palmieri was credited with the secondary assist.

With his 25th of the season, Lee has now reached that mark for the sixth time over his 11-year career.

But after a failed clear under six minutes later, the Penguins evened up the score as Jake Guentzel notched his 26th of the season as he deflected a Marcus Pettersson shot from the slot at 11:07 of the first.

The Islanders kept failing to make plays, and the Penguins kept making them, as after a tremendous number of chances in-tight, the Penguins came through before the end of the first as Evgeni Malkin found Jason Zucker in the slot. His shot squeaked past Sorokin glove side for his 22nd of the season to give the Penguins a 2-1 lead with 1:36 to play in the first.

The Penguins continued to dominate for most of the second, padding their lead to 3-1 about halfway through as Josh Archibald deflected a puck in off his glove on a Brandon Dumoulin point shot. The Islanders could have challenged, but Lambert chose not to.

The Islanders sustained offensive-zone pressure for just one shift in the second.

Defenseman Scott Mayfield took two penalties in the middle frame, three through the opening 40.

But then the third period came, and New York did what they do, coming all the way back from down 3-1 to not only force overtime, but win it thanks to a Brock Nelson breakaway in the overtime frame.

GAME.WINNER. pic.twitter.com/LteYbdrrst

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) March 10, 2023

Hudson Fasching got the Islanders their second of the game, scoring his fifth of the season after strong passing with Casey Cizikas at 14:31 of the third. That gave Fasching his second goal in as many games and four points over his last three games.

Then with Sorokin on the bench and the scoreboard showing 2:15, Lee scored his second of the game, redirecting a Noah Dobson pass through the wickets of Jarry to tie the game.

The Islanders have outscored their opponents 17-1 in the third period and have now won three straight.

UP NEXT: The New York Islanders host the Washington Capitals Saturday night at 7:30 PM ET at UBS Arena.