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After a brutal loss on home ice on Friday night, the New York Islanders had an opportunity to prove to their rivals, the New York Rangers, that they are, in fact, a better team than showed two nights prior.
In the first period at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Sunday, the Isles dictated the pace of play, getting rewarded just 1:47 into the first period on the power-play. Still adjusting to his new team’s structure, the improving Kyle Palmieri netted his first goal as an Islander on assists from Brock Nelson (10) and Josh Bailey (19). Still dominating the period, a great transitioning player like Mathew Barzal made something great happen. Barzal’s hustle and dish to Jordan Eberle led to a Jean-Gabriel Pageau goal with just eight seconds remaining. Barzal was rewarded with a secondary assist.
The Isles’ second-period struggles continued, resulting in the Rangers tying the game at two. Libor Hajek and Brendan Smith were the goal scorers for the Blueshirts.
Isles goaltender Ilya Sorokin and Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin kept the game deadlocked at two apiece in the third period.
Per MSG Networks, the Isles have never scored an overtime goal against the Rangers at the Nassau Coliseum. What better time to do it than tonight, right?
Ryan Pulock agreed, ending his goal-scoring drought just 1:13 into overtime. Barzal picked up his second assist of the game and twenty-fourth of the season.
For Sorokin, his rivalry with fellow Russian Shesterkin couldn’t have started any better. The isles picked up a much-needed and deserved win. It was also announced after the game that the Islanders had acquired defenseman Braydon Coburn from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a 2022 seventh-round pick. The boys in blue and orange look to get rested, as they have three days off before their next game in Boston on Thursday (7:00 PM start). With the trade deadline set for Monday, will the Isles add another forward? Maybe a guy named Taylor Hall? We shall see. For now, they are where they need to be.