Down 1-0 entering the third period, Bo Horvat scored an early third period goal, and Simon Holmstrom got the game-winner keeping the Islanders alive in the playoff race.
The playoff-chasing New York Islanders entered Tuesday's matchup looking for two points against the Chicago Blackhawks. It wasn't easy, but the Isles clawed away all night, and eventually earned a vital two points.
Down 1-0 entering the third period, Bo Horvat scored an early third period goal, and Simon Holmstrom got the game-winner with 10:35 remaining to keep the Islanders very alive in the playoff race, winning 2-1 Tuesday.
Ilya Sorokin picked up the win making 18 of 19 saves. Petr Mrazek was the losing goaltender stopping 27 of 29 Islander shots.
The Islanders had a fantastic start to this game, generating a multitude of chances without being able to score.
The Blackhawks however converted on their first solid scoring chance as Connor Bedard sauced the puck across to Jason Dickinson who roofed it past a sprawled Sorokin.
Philip Kurashev registered the secondary assist on the goal giving the Blackhawks a 1-0 lead 7:49 into the first.
With 1:30 to go in the first period, Matt Martin fought Jared Tinordi, who wiped-out J.G. Pageau earlier in the period with a massive open-ice hit.
Chicago led 1-0 after 20 minutes, which was unlucky for the Islanders who were the better team with more shots, leading 12 to 8.
No goals were scored in the second period. No penalties were called in play after 40 minutes as well. The Islanders took 14 shots compared to the Blackhawks six in the second period. To this point the Islanders almost doubled Chicago in shots leading 26-14 after 40 minutes.
Bo Horvat got the Islanders on the board with a power play goal. Kurashev went to the box for holding ten seconds into the third and New York capitalized.
Barzal found a wide open Horvat in front of the net who buried the puck on a one-timer to tie the game at one 1:33 into the third. Casey Cizikas tallied the secondary assist.
Holmstrom gave the Islanders their first lead of the night with a 2-1 score with 10:35 left in the game. The Islanders capitalized off of a fortunate bounce behind the goal line with Anders Lee retrieving the puck.
Lee found Holmstrom in front, who snuck a shot though traffic past Mrazek to give the Islanders a third period lead.
The Islanders killed off a huge penalty taken by Mike Reilly with 7:23 to go. New York preserved their 2-1 lead with their only penalty kill of the night entering the final five minutes.
Chicago pulled their goaltender for just over two minutes, but the Islanders held on to defeat the Blackhawks 2-1 -- keeping them alive in the Eastern Conference playoff race.