Lou Lamoriello said he wanted more from Bo Horvat and Mat Barzal. So Barzy got the OT winner and three assists, while Bo got the opening Isles goal.

UN-REAL! UN-REAL! UN-REAL UN-REAL! -- 5-4 OVER CANES IN OT!!! And This Is Not A Maven Joke either. It actually happened in Raleigh.

Why UN-REAL on a Mat Bazal one-timer at 2:45 of overtime last night at PNC Arena?

Here are six reasons why:

1. The New York Islanders were outshot 43-16. Outshot 15-4 in the third period!

2. Not only is the penalty kill perfect; the Isles also scored a shorthander.

3. They blocked 30 shots. Thirty!

4. Gasp! They recovered even after the Canes tied it with only three seconds left in the third.

5. Lou Lamoriello said he wanted more from Bo and Barzy. So Barzy got the OT winner and three assists. Bo got the opening Isles goal.

6. The Orange and Blue are back in the playoff pack defying all odds and two major injuries.

"We were committed," exhaled coach Lane Lambert. "We stuck to what we had to do and didn't worry about the shot clock. We needed a rebound from the loss in New Jersey and we got it."

What this means in terms of tomorrow night's game against the Panthers in Sunrise is anybody's guess. And that means your's, mine and, hopefully, Mat Barzal's since he lifted his game to a new and higher level.

Sure -- if you really want to quibble about the most painful way to blow a lead -- it was not the most pure manner in which to get two points. But, as far as I can tell, Gary Bettman doesn't much care as long as the winner was legal. It was a classic give and go, and give back, and score.

Believe, You-me, Barzy's snapper at 2:45 of the extra session was Kosher and Noah Dobson certified it while getting the assist on the play. But that was not all there was to commend.

Lambert: "There was a lot more commitment from our players that might not have been seen by the naked eye. And let's not forget that through it all (Semyon) Varlamov was outstanding."

And who cares that this was the most cockamamee script imaginable. The point is -- game after regular season game -- to keep pace with the key foes: To wit: The Isles are in fourth place at 9-7-6-24 having played 22 games. But there are the enemies to consider:

* Capitals: We're tied with them in points but Washington has three games in hand.

* Canes: We're three behind in points but even in games played.

* Flyers: We're tied in points but Orange and Blue have a game in hand.

* Devils: We're a point ahead but NJ has a game in hand.

* Penguins: We're one ahead.

Believe it or not, The Maven has more reasons for us to smile:

A. Dobson not only had three assists, his one-two passing play -- and last second pass to Barzy -- was absolutely DE LUXE.

B. Simon Holmstrom's short-hander (courtesy of J-G. Pageau's assist) shows that the foot soldiers are contributing.

C. Pierre Engvall has awakened. His second goal of the season late in the second period put the Isles ahead, 3-2.

D. Kyle Palmieri's PPG at 6:41 of the third was four seconds short of being the game-winner.

As for the Canes almost-end-of-game tying goal, Lambert simply agreed with with The Maven:

"It was a darn shame!"

All things considered, the final result says something about the Islanders staying power and rebound-ability. But the Panthers will have something to say about it at 6 p.m. tomorrow night.