The Islanders at the as-yet-undefeated-at-home Devils right where they wanted them: Having killed off a fourth Devils power play late in a tied game, the Isles finally got a power play of their own, and after a middling start, Kyle Palmieri cashed in for the would-be winner.
But after missing several empty net tries and the icing punishment that comes with it, the Isles gave up an equalizer on a point shot through traffic with 4 seconds left on the clock.
Fortunately, Mat Barzal made that late heartbreak an afterthought when he streaked up ice and finished a give-and-go with Jonathan Drouin for the OT winner 77 seconds into the bonus frame. The Isles handed New Jersey its first defeat on home ice, and more importantly they started a seven-game road spell with an important 2-0 head start.
That OT sequence could’ve easily gone the other way. Ryan Pulock made a bit-too-predictable back pass across the slot in the Isles zone that a predatory Jack Hughes nearly intercepted. But Barzal was alert to the risk, and poked the puck just by Hughes, enabling the beginning of his sprint. Jesper Brett helpfully just kind of watched Barzal go the length of the ice rather than defend him; it was surely a nice view of the winner.
Sorokin Stands Tall Again
Recency and elation point to that moment as key, but it was really a great night — another 33 saves — for Ilya Sorokin to hold the Isles in it. He made several stops and squaring off dangerous chances as the Devils pushed for the equalizer. The tying goal was through several bodies and took a deflection.
It would’ve been a harsh result for Sorokin to not get at least a point out of tonight.
Now the real road begins. Vegas on Thursday, Utah on Friday, then Colorado, Dallas and Detroit next week.