Islanders Beat Leafs 4-3 in OT ELMONT, NY – The New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/game-day/new-york-islanders-toronto-maple-leafs-stan-fischler] gave away a point but ultimately defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3 in overtime. Bo Horvat scored the game-winning goal on a two-on-one rush with Mathew Barzal. Former Islanders captain John Tavares recorded his 1,000th career point with an assist on the game-tying goal that forced overtime. Ilya Sorokin made 36 saves on 39 shots in the win, including many high level chances that kept the Islanders in the lead for most of the game. Ilya Samsonov made 27 saves on 31 shots in the losing effort for Toronto. The Maple Leafs had two breakaway attempts in the game's first five minutes. On the second, Robert Bortuzzo slashed Mitch Marner before saving a goal on the next effort. On the ensuing power play, a broken play allowed Auston Matthews to score his 19th goal of the season 5:49 into the game. Mitch Marner and William Nylander assisted. The Islanders had a great response shift after the Matthews goal, coming close to tying the game at one. Brock Nelson was robbed in tight by Samsonov at the 6:42 mark. Nelson would not be denied as he tied the game at one a few minutes later. While drifting backward into the slot, he received a pass from Kyle Palmieri and floated a shot below the glove of Samsonov at 9:20. Noah Dobson had the secondary assist. Casey Cizikas gave the Islanders a 2-1 lead with only 1:27 remaining in the first period. Hudson Fasching rushed the puck up the ice, where Cal Clutterbuck then took it and sent it in front for Cizikas. After getting a fortunate bounce, Cizikas roofed it for his fourth goal of the season. The Islanders led in shots 14-9 after one period of play. Sorokin had to stand tall, making a few huge saves. It only took a minute and ten seconds into the second period for the Islanders to score again. Palmieri started the play by beating out an icing, but seconds later, he received the puck in the high slot and picked his corner on Samsonov, giving the Islanders a 3-1 lead. Nelson and Dobson assisted. Tavares found the scoresheet to make it a one-goal game for the Maple Leafs. He deflected a shot from Connor Timmons into the net for his eighth goal of the season, which was also his first in nine games. For Tavares, it was point number 999 on his career. Toronto had a lot of great chances towards the end of the second with the Islanders often failing to clear the defensive zone. The Maple Leafs led in shots for the middle frame, taking 14 compared to the Islanders 11. The third period went back and forth with chances from both sides. There was an injury scare to Mike Reilly who went to the locker room but returned shortly after. Sorokin made an incredible save on Auston Matthews with under a minute and thirty seconds remaining to preserve the Islanders lead. The Maple Leafs kept up the pressure and were able to tie the game at three with 6.4 seconds left. The puck bounced perfectly onto the stick of Morgan Rielly after a shot from the point hit Tavares, and he buried it. Tavares recorded his 1,000th NHL point with the assist on the goal. Nylander took the shot from the point and got the secondary. The last laugh belonged to the Islanders as Horvat buried the overtime winner off a saucer pass from Barzal. Noah Dobson stretched the puck up the ice and received the secondary assist. The game winner came 44 seconds into overtime. The Islanders extend their win streak to three games and point streak to six games. New York moves to a 13-7-7 record on the season. UP NEXT: The Islanders host Ross Johnston and the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday night at 7:30 PM. LINEUP: Anders Lee -- Bo Horvat -- Mathew Barzal Pierre Engvall -- Brock Nelson -- Kyle Palmieri Simon Holmstrom -- Jean-Gabriel Pageau -- Julien Gauthier Hudson Fasching -- Casey Cizikas -- Cal Clutterbuck Alexander Romanov -- Noah Dobson Samuel Bolduc -- Robert Bortuzzo Mike Reilly -- Scott Mayfield Ilya Sorokin Semyon Varlamov
