Brock Nelson and Bo Horvat, the Islanders’ two top centers, did their best. Ilya Sorokin, the groin-defying, hip-transforming world-class goalie, also did his — well, pretty close to — best.
But the New York Islanders ran into the high-flying side of a high-flying Devils offense Friday night in Elmont. They salvaged a point out of it, falling in OT, 5-4.
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After Nelson opened scoring in the first, the teams split the period with a Dougie Hamilton power play equalizer with a minute to go. Then the Isles tied it three times after conceding one-goal deficits (again with the New Jersey power play), not all of them by Jack Hughes.
It was a night for shooters, honestly. Nelson continued #Brocktober with two brilliant snipes — his patented far post zinger coming down the left wing, then a delicious ice-level five-hole shot after making Akira Schmid blink. Horvat, who forced overtime with a net-crashing goal to make it 4-4 with 1:11 left in regulation, had earlier made it 3-3 with a great goal-line one-timer in off Schmid’s pad and in.
And of course there was Jack Hughes, who capped a four-point night with a sizzling shot past Sorokin’s glove from the slot to win it in overtime.
Hughes had come off the bench fresh, and took advantage of some tired Islanders playing zonally safe. With a shot like his, no passive defense is safe, however.
His younger brother, Luke, had a big night by notching his first NHL goal to make it 3-2 early in the second.
Homestand Concluded
Overall? I’m not sure how to feel about this one. It was certainly exciting. Certainly no surprise to have a high-scoring game against the Devils, especially coming off getting chewed out by their coach for flat performances.
They’re a division favorite, so I guess we should be pleased the Isles hung with them blow for blow — and there’s no 3-on-3 sideshow in the playoffs. Ultimately, five points out of six on the opening home stand isn’t too shabby. How they do tomorrow in Buffalo will probably add more context to this one.