For a second straight game, the New York Islanders blew a lead in the third period, as they fell to the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 in overtime.
The Islanders are now 27-23-6 on the season, missing out on a critical power play chance in overtime.
LINES:
Josh Bailey-Bo Horvat-Mathew Barzal
Anders Lee-Brock Nelson-Kyle Palmieri
Zach Parise-Jean-Gabriel Pageau-Simon Holmstrom
Matt Martin-Casey Cizikas-Hudson Fasching
Adam Pelech-Ryan Pulock
Alexander Romanov-Scott Mayfield
Sebastian Aho-Noah Dobson
Semyon Varlamov
Ilya Sorokin
GOALS:
Nick Suzuki gave the Montreal Canadiens a 1-0 lead at 12:57 of the first period as he was left all alone at the blocker side post for his 17th goal of the season. Rafael Harvey-Pinard and Josh Anderson were credited with the assists.
Brock Nelson tied the game at one as he deflected a Noah Dobson point shot for his 21st goal od the season. Sebastian Aho was credited with the secondary assist.
Bo Horvat gave the Islanders a 2-1 lead with five seconds to play in the second as he threw a puck from the left corner that snuck in for his 34th goal of the season. Dobson and Nelson were credited with the assists.
Justin Barron tied the contest at two as he beat Varlamov from the high slot for his first goal of the season at 4:02 of the third. Evgenii Dadonov and Mike Hoffman were credited with the assists.
Matt Martin gave the Islanders a 3-2 lead as he deflected an Alexander Romanov point shot for his 6th goal of the season at 10:54 of the third period.
Kirby Dach deflected a Mike Matheson shot through the five-hole of Varlamov for his 12th of the season at 16:44 of the third. Hoffman was credited wit the secondary assist.
Matheson scored the game-winner in overtime following an Islanders power play as he scored on the rebound. Hoffman was credited the lone assist.
Islanders Don’t Rise to Occasion
For the second game in the row, the New York Islanders blew a lead and lost to a team playing for nothing at this point of the season.
An inability to clear the front of the net led to a tying goal, and an inability to score on a four-on-three power play in overtime came back to bite them.
The Islanders had 13 giveaways to the Canadiens five.
Nelson Stays Hot
Brock Nelson entered the game with points in nine straight games, a career-high, after scoring against the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday.
He stayed hot against the Montreal Canadiens as he deflected a Noah Dobson shot for his 21st goal of the season, Horvat-esque if you will.
Brock goes between the legs for this NASTY deflection and his point streak goes to 10 games! pic.twitter.com/29Qy8jxEy9
— Isles on MSGSN (@IslesMSGN) February 11, 2023
Over this 10-game point streak, Nelson has six goals and six assists.
Horvat Keeps it Rolling
Bo Horvat had two goals in his first three games alongside Mathew Barzal and stayed hot on Saturday afternoon. Albeit not a goal via a Mathew Barzal assist, Horvat scored his third goal in an Islanders sweater as he threw one from an impossible angle on the power play.
Bo Horvat power play goal from an impossible angle! #Isles pic.twitter.com/EE4IU47tfA
— Isles on MSGSN (@IslesMSGN) February 11, 2023
With the goal, Horvat now has 34 goals on the season, with 12 power-play goals.
What’s Next: The New York Islanders host the Ottawa Senators Tuesday night at 7:30 PM.
