The New York Islanders continued their red-hot form, securing their ninth consecutive victory in dramatic fashion. Anthony Beauvillier and Oliver Wahlstrom scored in the shootout to lift the Islanders past the New Jersey Devils 3-2 on Sunday, keeping their winning streak alive.
The Devils thought they had won just 27 seconds into overtime when P.K. Subban found the net, but the goal was overturned after a lengthy review revealed that Jesper Bratt was offside.
“You’re thinking the game’s over, and then they start reviewing it,” said Islanders center Brock Nelson. “Our video guys were confident it was offside, giving us some life.”
With the game on the line in the shootout, Beauvillier and Wahlstrom found the back of the net after the Islanders were just one save away from losing. Beauvillier tied it up with a shot off the post, and Wahlstrom sealed the win with a powerful shot past Devils goalie Scott Wedgewood.
The Islanders, now 11-0-1 in their last 12 games, lead the NHL with 42 points.
“That was a huge goal by Beauvillier under pressure,” said Islanders coach Barry Trotz. “It kept us in the game, and Wahlstrom finished it off. It wasn’t the prettiest win, but we found a way.”
Nelson and Kieffer Bellows scored in the first period for the Islanders, and rookie goalie Ilya Sorokin made 29 saves, allowing only Nikita Gusev to score in the shootout.
The Devils’ winless streak at home extended to 11 games (0-10-1), and they are now 4-11-1 since February 1.
Devils coach Lindy Ruff acknowledged the frustration. He noted that his team had a third-period goal disallowed due to a questionable interference call and then saw their overtime winner wiped out.
“It’s tough for the players,” Ruff said. “There are areas where we could have been better, but I understand their pain.”
Janne Kuokkanen and Yegor Sharangovich scored for the Devils, with Wedgewood making 32 saves in a strong performance.
Devils center Pavel Zacha, who missed the final shootout attempt, expressed the team’s disappointment.
“We had some good chances, especially in overtime,” Zacha said. “It’s tough to lose games like this.”
Sharangovich tied the game at 2-2 late in the second period after capitalizing on an Islanders turnover. Nelson had given New York a 2-1 lead with just one second left in the first period, while Bellows opened the scoring earlier in the period.
The game was delayed at the start due to a lineup issue. Noah Dobson was originally scheduled to play but was a late scratch after being added to the COVID-19 protocol list. Sebastian Aho replaced him, quickly contributed, and assisted in his first game of the season.
Game Notes:
- Devils forward Kyle Palmieri recorded his 350th NHL point with an assist on Kuokkanen’s goal.
- The game’s officiating crew saw Furman South join Pierre Lambert after Justin St. Pierre left Saturday’s game with an upper-body injury.
- Islanders captain Anders Lee (lower-body injury) was placed on long-term injured reserve, while Devils captain Nico Hischier (upper-body injury) also remained out.
UP NEXT:
- Islanders: Travel to Washington on Tuesday for a matchup between the top two teams in the East.
- Devils: Host the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday.
