Islanders manage to secure a tough victory against Canadiens in their first game after the Olympic break

Islanders Defeat Canadiens in Overtime

MONTREAL — Well, it looks like the first game back after a three-week break had more to do with which team could shake off the rust faster. Neither the Islanders nor the Canadiens really showcased their best play on Thursday night.

The game felt a bit off, like everyone on the ice was still trying to wake up from a long trip. You might have thought all 40 players just hopped off a plane from somewhere far away.

However, the Islanders find themselves in a tight spot, clinging to a four-point lead for a playoff spot as their busy schedule kicks in. As the game progressed, they picked up the intensity, tying it late in regulation and securing a 4-3 win thanks to Jean-Gabriel Pageau’s goal in overtime.

Honestly, the hockey wasn’t exactly pretty. Both teams seemed mismatched as plays went astray. The Islanders struggled with passes and lost some crucial puck battles, just like the Canadiens did.

Nonetheless, it turned out to be an entertaining game, particularly thanks to two defensemen central to the Islanders’ season story. Noah Dobson scored twice against his old team while Matthew Schaefer also found the net twice against his new team, adding some excitement to the evening.

The Canadiens had taken a lead in the third period. Following a misstep by Kyle MacLean, Cole Caufield capitalized, scoring after July Slavkovskiy broke his stick. Caufield received a pass from Ivan Demidov and scored to put the Canadiens ahead 3-2.

The Islanders pressured hard right up until there was just 1:41 left on the clock. Anders Lee, skating with an extra attacker, redirected Bo Horvat’s shot to tie it at 3 and sent the game into overtime, marking Lee’s 900th career game.

In overtime, the Islanders barely touched the puck during the first 1:23, but then Pageau broke away and skillfully sent a backhand shot past Montembeau to clinch the win.

Dobson scored his first goal earlier in the game, netting one from the left circle after the Islanders caught the Canadiens in a bad change. He followed with a second on a power play, launching a slap shot that cut through a crowd in the second period.

Before the game, Dobson faced a media frenzy, making his debut after moving from the Islanders to the Canadiens. Schaefer, however, attracted even more attention as he played his first game in Montreal, the heart of hockey culture.

It was expected that both players would shine, and Schaefer didn’t disappoint. He scored two goals in 55 seconds during the second period. With a 5-on-3 advantage, he struck from the top to reduce the Canadiens’ lead. Moments later, he executed one of the season’s most remarkable plays, skating behind the net, circling around, and taking a shot from above the right circle—covering an impressive distance in the process.

With the first goal, Schaefer became the rookie defenseman with the most points on the team. His second goal set a record for the most points by an 18-year-old defenseman.