Islanders Secure First Victory of the Season
In a thrilling matchup on Thursday night, the New York Islanders celebrated their first victory of the season, defeating the Edmonton Oilers with a score of 4-2. The game showcased a stellar performance from Bo Horvat, who not only scored a hat trick but also demonstrated his versatility by netting a crucial short-handed goal, a power-play goal, and finally, sealing the win with an empty-netter just 8.1 seconds before the final buzzer.
Key Moments of the Game
Horvat ignited the crowd at Barclays Center after scoring while the Islanders were short-handed, managing to find the back of the net with just 4:46 remaining in the second period despite the earlier frustrations of the fans. This crucial goal came shortly after Trent Frederic was penalized for high-sticking Matthew Schaefer. The Islanders’ Mat Barzal had already opened the scoring for his team and also played a key role by assisting Horvat’s game-winning goal.
Making his debut for the Islanders, goalie David Rittich made significant contributions by stopping 30 out of 32 shots fired at him, showcasing his skills amid the high-paced action.
Oilers’ Struggles
The Oilers’ defenseman Evan Bouchard had a night to forget, as he was responsible for a couple of critical turnovers that allowed the Islanders to capitalize on chances. His blunder in the neutral zone gifted Barzal the chance to score, and a subsequent mistake while the team was on the power play opened the door for Horvat’s breakaway. Bouchard’s performance was particularly scrutinized given his high salary of $10.5 million, placing him among the top earners at his position in the NHL.
On the offensive front for Edmonton, Leon Draisaitl scored his third power play goal of the season, assisted by superstar Connor McDavid, while Ryan Nugent-Hopkins contributed with the other goal. Goalie Stuart Skinner, though he faced the heat from multiple quality scoring chances generated by his teammates’ errors, did his best to hold the line, stopping 21 of 24 shots.
Looking Ahead
The Islanders, who previously struggled with losses in their first two games against Pittsburgh, Washington, and Winnipeg, were eager to secure two vital points in the standings. Schaefer, who faced McDavid for the first time as draft counterparts, played a solid 17:38 in the game, marking his growth in the league just a few games into his career.
Looking ahead, the Oilers will face the New Jersey Devils on Saturday, while the Islanders will be in Ottawa the same day to continue their road trip.
