Bo Horvat Rises as Overtime Conqueror in Islanders’ Triumph over Devils

In a thrilling Friday night showdown, the New York Islanders rode to a 4-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils, thanks to the overtime heroics of Bo Horvat. Brock Nelson, Anders Lee, and Kyle Palmieri contributed goals to the Islanders’ scoreline, with Ilya Sorokin making 32 crucial saves.

Devils’ Struggles Continue

Despite goals from Nico Hischier, Curtis Lazar, and Jesper Bratt, the Devils faltered for the fourth consecutive time since their promising 5-2-0 season start. Jake Allen, the Devils’ netminder, stopped 26 shots. Horvat notched his third seasonal goal, delivering a one-timer in the overtime after Bratt had managed to tie the game for the third time with just 1:29 left in the final period.

Islanders’ Early Dominance

The Islanders started strong, with Nelson drawing first blood just 1:23 into the game. Hischier, however, managed to level the scores with his team-high eighth goal of the season. Lee then pushed the Islanders ahead, utilizing a power play opportunity with 5:57 remaining in the first period.

Back-and-Forth Battle

Lazar equalized for the Devils at 5:31 into the second, only for Palmieri to retake the lead for the Islanders with 8:32 left in the same period. This game marked the fourth time this season that the Islanders managed to score three or more goals in a single game, having been shutout in their three other matches.

Key Moments and Stats

Sorokin’s athleticism was on full display when he made an impressive glove save on Hischier right after the overtime faceoff. The Russian goaltender celebrated his second win in four starts this season, with his standout save denying Devils’ forward Dawson Mercer a point-blank shot during a breakaway just over 15 minutes into the second period.

Looking Ahead

The Islanders will welcome Florida on their home ice on Saturday night, while the Devils will entertain Anaheim on Sunday. The Devils will be keen to shake off their home woes, having lost four out of their five games at the Prudential Center this season, despite their successful two-game stint against Buffalo in Prague at the season’s onset.