Islanders 4, Devils 3 (OT): Bo knows overtime
You, yes you. | Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
Despite giving up a late equalizer, the Isles are rewarded for a strong effort with two points. Woot! And also whew!
The Islanders sent another game to extra time — after giving up a late equalizer — but were able to finish it before the shootout, as Bo Horvat finished off a pretty combo with Mat Barzal to give the Isles a 4-3 win over the Devils 69 seconds into overtime.
They were pretty deserving of a good result. It also was close to ending on a bad note.
[GameCenter | Game Sum | Event Sum | Natural Stat Trick]
Still, there were a lot of bright spots in the Isles’ game, their fourth out of their first seven to require overtime, though getting so close to a regulation win left a short-live sour taste:
Brocktober returned to the air as Brock Nelson opened scoring with a nice mid-slot deflection 1:23 into the game.
The power play got a tally when Anders Lee snuck around the net to pick up the rebound of a Noah Dobson one-timer and rifle it in off the post.
After being shut out twice in the previous three games, the Isles got goals the old fashioned way, from deflections/rebounds of point shots: Nelson and Lee noted above, and also Kyle Palmieri getting a piece of a really heavy Alex Romanov blast. You can get 10 deflections in a game and not have one hit paydirt, so let’s not read too much into it, but it was nice to see fundamentally strong approaches getting rewarded.
The PK was 100% on two Devils opportunities and included a few shorthanded chances for Kyle MacLean.
Ilya Sorokin stopped 32 shots including a Dawson Mercer breakaway that at the time appeare pivotal.
And of course, ultimate relief from Bo and Barzy, after Jesper Bratt had tied it with 90 seconds left and Jake Allen pulled for a Devils sixth attacker.
Barzal and Bo with a little behind the net give-and-go for the OT Winner!! @NYIslanders | @brendanmburke | #Isles pic.twitter.com/7YPtwSOZ3t— Isles on MSGSN (@IslesMSGN) October 26, 2024
Also:
Alex Romanov can dish out, and take it — but fasten that chin strap, boy! The Isles defenseman hammered Jack Hughes with a blueline check, shortly after being on the receiving end of this hit and sequence:
Kurtis MacDermid HUGE hit on Romanov and then drops the mitts with Scott Mayfield #NJDevils | #Islespic.twitter.com/IONJTUkk0R— Missin Curfew (@MissinCurfew) October 26, 2024
Asked to pinpoint something about their offensive effort that improved tonight, both Patrick Roy and Bo Horvat spoke about defensemen blasting shots toward the crease that the Isles were able to establish position and tip. Traffic to crease a huge factor tonight.— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) October 26, 2024
Up Next
It’s too bad they could take two points without conceding one to a division rival, but we’ll take it, and it keeps the Isles in the early hunt with other teams that only have one regulation loss. (New Jersey technically leads the division with 12 points, but just a .545 points percentage as they have several more games played.)
All of which is to set up tomorrow night being a tough one as the Cup champion Florida Panthers visit....
Want the trending hockey news in your inbox daily?.
Just add your email, and we'll start sending you the most important hockey news of the day.
