Bo Horvat’s goal in overtime secures a victory for the Islanders against the Penguins

Islanders Rush Before NHL Olympic Break

The Islanders seem to be rushing headlong into the NHL’s three-week Olympic break. Night after night, they appear to be just trying to stay afloat, almost like they’re playing beyond their means.

Yet, somehow, they have this knack for overcoming obstacles.

Take their recent game against the Penguins, for example. They managed to pull off a thrilling 5-4 overtime win at UBS Arena, despite briefly losing a three-point lead to Pittsburgh. Bo Horvat scored the overtime goal that sealed the victory.

This win puts the Penguins in a tie for second in the Metro division, but they’re currently sitting in third place, trailing the Capitals and Blue Jackets by four points—though they do have two games left.

Honestly, for much of the night, it looked like the Islanders were headed for a third consecutive defeat, which definitely set off some alarm bells.

They struggled to maintain pressure or generate forechecks and didn’t display much physicality. Some players, like Anthony Duclair, even found themselves benched.

Entering the third period, Pittsburgh had a slim 3-2 lead, which, as anyone familiar with the NHL knows, can be tricky.

Even after Brian Rust scored to break a 2-0 tie, it seemed like the Islanders were somehow lucky to be close.

The last 20 minutes of the game brought chaos. After Horvat and Matthew Schaefer scored the first two goals for the Islanders, it seemed logical that superstar Matt Barzal would get in on the action. He did just that, tying the game at 3 with his own goal early in the third.

But just when momentum shifted, Pittsburgh regained the lead with a tip-in from Justin Brazeau. Still, the Islanders showed resilience. Ryan Purock, who had been struggling, found the net to tie it up again with just under five minutes left.

Then came overtime. Horvat scored the decisive goal, marking a significant moment for the Islanders this season.

Initially, they seemed on track, leading 2-1 in the first with goals from Horvat and Schaefer. Yet, the atmosphere was undeniably tense.

Duclair had a rocky night, only participating briefly after being involved in Mantha’s goal before spending the rest of the game on the sidelines. Despite contributions from the defense, there were moments where pairs typically reliable were caught off-guard. Carson Soucy and Scott Mayfield struggled throughout the match, and even Jean-Gabriel Pageau faced challenges after Duclair’s benching.

Even Ilya Sorokin, generally the Islanders’ backbone, let in an unexpected goal late in the game.

It’s worth noting that a couple of points in hand doesn’t erase the mounting anxiety that’s settled in over the past month.

However, there’s one more game to navigate before the break, providing a chance for them to catch their breath. Hopefully, that rest will help iron out some of the issues they’ve been facing.