Islanders Triumph in Overtime Against Devils
In an exhilarating contest last night in Newark, the New York Islanders secured a dramatic 3-2 victory against the New Jersey Devils, with Mathew Barzal delivering the decisive goal in overtime. Barzal found the back of the net just 1:17 into the 3-on-3 overtime period, moments after the Devils managed to send the game into extra time with Simon Nemec’s goal, which occurred with a mere 4.7 seconds remaining in regulation. Nemec’s shot, taken with the Devils pulling goalie Jacob Markstrom for an additional attacker, was initially under review before being deemed valid.
Key Moments of the Game
Before the frantic end of regulation, Kyle Palmieri had given the Islanders a 2-1 lead by scoring on the power play with under three minutes to go in the third period, capitalizing on a rebound from a shot by Matthew Schaefer, this year’s top overall draft pick and a leading contender for the Calder Trophy, awarded to the NHL’s rookie of the year. Earlier, Palmieri had also played a role in the Islanders’ second goal, assisting Bo Horvat’s equalizer early in the second period, which came 6:55 into that frame.
The Devils initially took control of the game with Timo Meier’s power-play goal just 2:12 into the first period; however, the Islanders struggled to find their scoring rhythm, managing their first shot on goal past the nine-minute mark. Despite being screened during Nemec’s goal and facing a barrage of shots, Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin had a standout performance, stopping 32 of the 34 shots thrown his way. He has shown impressive form recently, which he attributes to guidance from coach Patrick Roy, a goaltending legend himself.
Looking Ahead
For the Devils, Markstrom saved 22 shots but ultimately could not secure the win. Looking ahead, the Islanders will travel to face the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday, embarking on a three-game road trip in the Western Conference, while the Devils will take on the Chicago Blackhawks in their next matchup, marking the beginning of a challenging stretch with five consecutive away games.
