Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
NHL: Calgary Flames at New York Islanders
Just one week after their 5-4 comeback win against the Avalanche, the New York Islanders did it again. They trailed 3-1 heading into the third period but came back to defeat the Flames 4-3 in overtime at UBS Arena on Long Island.
It was another game in which the Islanders started it off looking sluggish and playing far too much hockey in their own zone. The Flames were extremely aggressive in the offensive zone and it paid off. There was some confusion between defensemen Ryan Pulock and Adam Pelech with 8:44 left in the first period which resulted in a 1-0 lead for Calgary. Flames center Mikael Backlund was left all alone right in front of Ilya Sorokin who couldn’t get the blocker up in time.
It then took the Islanders roughly 12 minutes into the first period to get their first registered shot on goal. The first shot however was the game tying goal. It came off the stick of defenseman Sebastian Aho on a crisp pass from Mathew Barzal (who finished with two assists). Calgary responded later on in the period to take a 2-1 lead. Elias Lindholm was parked in front of Sorokin and the puck went off of him and in.
The Islanders lacked offensive firepower through the first 40 minutes. They had just a mere 12 total shots on net and trailed 3-1 heading into the third period. Michael Backlund notched his second of the night in the second period. The Islanders again failed to clear the traffic in front of Sorokin and Backlund wristed it in blocker side. However, the third period is where the Islanders got UBS Arena rockin.
Mathew Barzal was playing heads up hockey all night. He put his speed to use and took the puck out wide to the left. He then passed it to Brock Nelson who ripped a shot that was blocked. Captain Anders Lee cut to the net and buried the rebound off of his backhand with ten minutes left in the third.
Not long after, a Calgary turnover led to Kyle Palmeri finding the puck and firing a laser from the left face off dot past the glove of Markstrom to tie the game up. The isles scored those two goals in 59 seconds and held on to force overtime. They have scored 22 goals in the third period thus far this season which is currently tied for the most in the league.
Then came overtime. Ilya Sorokin made three great stops in succession to keep the Islanders in it long enough to draw a penalty. It was on the power play where a hero emerged for the blue and orange. Mathew Barzal faked a slap shot and instead got the puck over to defenseman Noah Dobson who then ripped the one timer home with a slapshot for the win.
The Islanders now have a chance to move ahead of the Carolina Hurricanes in the Metropolitan division and take second place. A win tonight against their crosstown rival, the New York Rangers would do just that. The two play each other tonight at Madison Square Garden, puck drop 7:00 p.m.
