Islanders’ concern for injured Romanov after scary boards collision overshadows tense win vs. Stars

DALLAS (AP) — The New York Islanders added another statement victory to this remarkable road trip, turning back one of the NHL’s best teams in a tense finish with a little help from the league’s replay review crew.

Their feelings for the moment were elsewhere, however, with concern about the health of a teammate and anger about how he was hurt.

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Dallas Stars left wing Jason Robertson (21) skates by himself after scoring during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Islanders, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)

New York Islanders center Casey Cizikas (53) checks Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen (4) into the glass during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)

EDS NOTE: OBSCENITY – Referee Stephen Hiff overturns a game-tying Dallas Stars goal on a goalie interference call during the third period of an NHL hockey game between the Stars and the New York Islanders, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)

New York Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov (28) and center Casey Cizikas (53) celebrate a goal by center Kyle Palmieri (21) during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)

The third period of this 3-2 win over the Dallas Stars on Tuesday was about as action-packed as a regular season game could be, all the way down to the final tenth of a second when the Stars were awarded the tying goal on the ice only to have it taken away after the video review at league headquarters.

Just before that, Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov had to be helped off the ice after ramming face-first into the boards. He’d been hit by Stars forward Mikko Rantanen, who was ejected for boarding with 28 seconds left, and the Islanders were fuming about it. Coach Patrick Roy screamed toward Rantanen as he walked down the tunnel toward the locker room.

“Whenever your friend gets hurt, it’s way more important than hockey,” teammate Jean-Gabriel Pageau said.

Roy had no details on Romanov’s injury afterward but said he didn’t need a hospital visit.

“You see the numbers, you have to lay off. Everybody knows that. I mean, you don’t go through the guy,” said Roy, whose team is 5-1 on a seven-game road swing. “I’m proud of the way that our guys handled it afterwards. No one was happy to see someone get hurt like this. It’s disrespectful for our guy.”

Roy noted that he briefly coached Rantanen as a rookie in 2015-16, his final season with Colorado, and said playing dirty was not his style.

“But at the same time, that should not be part of our game,” Roy said.

Stars coach Glen Gulutzan defended Rantanen because he believed his skate was clipped by Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield’s to cause him to raise his arms for balance right before contact with Romanov that in turn increased the intensity of the hit.

“It’s just one of those hockey plays that happened. I hope Romanov is OK,” Gulutzan said. “It’s a dangerous play for everybody.”

The Stars clearly understood why the Islanders were so upset.

“They’re sticking up for their guy. We have to respect that,” said star Jason Robertson, who had two goals. “It’s just unfortunate it happened.”

Then for good measure, another collision wound up determining the final outcome.

As Robertson darted toward the net with the final seconds ticking away, Wyatt Johnson put a shot on the net as Robertson ran into goalie David Rittich, who fell on his back as the puck went in and the arena erupted. But the NHL’s Situation Room initiated a review and ruled that Robertson impaired Rittich’s ability to play the puck. The Stars contended that Robertson was pushed by an Islanders player into the crease.

“Our side’s going to say Robo got pushed. Their side’s going to say Robo ran into the goalie,” Stars forward Tyler Seguin said. “It kind of is what it is in an 82-game season.”

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL

KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — Curaçao salvaged a 0-0 draw with Jamaica on Tuesday to become the smallest nation by population to qualify for a World Cup and will be joined by CONCACAF sides Panama and Haiti which also booked their spots.

Curaçao finished as the only undefeated nation in the tournament and finished atop of Group B with 12 points to advance to the World Cup for the first time in its history.

Curaçao got the historic result despite not having his coach Dick Advocaat on the bench. The 78-year-old Advocaat missed the crucial match because he had to return to the Netherlands last weekend for family reasons.

Advocaat was at the helm of the Netherlands national team for three stints and managed South Korea, Belgium and Russia before taking the job with Curaçao.

Jamaica came close to taking the lead in the 54th minute with a header from Greg Leigh that bounced off the right post. Two more headers rattled the posts as Jamaica pushed in search of the winner, with Shamar Nicholson hitting the crossbar in the 70th minute and Bailey Cadamarteri the right post in the 87th.

In stoppage time, Jamaica was awarded a penalty after substitute Jeremy Antonisse’s sliding tackle brought down Dujuan Richards in the area. But it was overturned after a video review.

According to the Central Bureau of Statistics in Curaçao, the country has a population of 156,115 persons as of last January. Iceland, with a population of just over 350,000 was the smallest country to reach the World Cup when it qualified for the tournament in Russia in 2018.

Panama advanced to its second World Cup after defeating El Salvador 3-0 on first-half goals from César Blackman (17) and Erick Davis (45). Jose Luis Rodriguez (85) added a goal for the Panamanians, who have Russia 2018 as their only World Cup appearance.

Panama finished as the best team in Group A with 12 points while Suriname, which came into the last round leading the way on goal difference, lost 3-1 against Guatemala and finished in second place with nine points.

Haiti, a troubled Caribbean country, had a surprising campaign, winning Group C over favorites Honduras and Costa Rica after beating Nicaragua 2-0.

Loicious Deedson opened the scoring in the ninth minute and Ruben Providence added a goal in the 45th. Haiti’s only previous trip to the World Cup was in Germany in 1974.

The CONCAFAC results Tuesday finalized the six teams which will take part in the intercontinental playoffs in Mexico in March of next year. Two teams will qualify from the playoffs which includes Iraq in Asia, Congo in Africa, Jamaica and Suriname from CONCACAF, Bolivia from South America and New Caledonia from Oceania.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer