Bo Horvat Lifts Islanders in OT Thriller Against Penguins, Pulls New York Within One Point of Metro Rival
The New York Islanders needed a spark, and Bo Horvat delivered it in dramatic fashion. With 52 seconds gone in overtime, Horvat buried the game-winner on a breakaway, sealing a 5-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins at UBS Arena on Tuesday night. The win snapped a two-game skid and gave the Islanders a crucial extra point in the standings - one that could loom large in the tight Metropolitan Division race.
Horvat finished with two goals and an assist, but it was his 12th career overtime goal - and seventh as an Islander - that capped off a wild, back-and-forth battle that saw the lead change hands four times.
“We had some desperation,” defenseman Ryan Pulock said postgame. “We knew how important this game is.
We’re coming off two losses. We had to be desperate, and I felt like we found that.
The crowd was bringing some energy, especially late.”
Trading Blows All Night
This one had the feel of a playoff preview. Both teams came in separated by just two points in the standings, and it showed in the intensity on the ice.
The Islanders clawed back from deficits of 1-0, 3-2, and 4-3 before finally ending it in overtime. It was a game of momentum swings, and the Isles found a way to ride the final wave.
Mathew Barzal had a standout performance with a goal and two assists, while rookie Matthew Schaefer chipped in a goal and an assist of his own. Pulock added a crucial tally late in regulation to force overtime.
For Pittsburgh, Anthony Mantha, Egor Chinakhov, Bryan Rust, and Justin Brazeau - who also notched an assist - found the back of the net. But it wasn’t enough to hold off an Islanders team that refused to go away.
Barzal Ignites the Comeback
Down 3-2 midway through the third, the Islanders needed someone to step up. Enter Barzal, who rifled a one-timer from the point through traffic to tie the game with 11:25 left. It was his fifth goal in six games and extended his current goal streak to three - his longest since a five-game streak in late 2022.
Barzal wasn’t done. With under five minutes to go, he set up Pulock for the game-tying goal. Pulock’s low laser beat Stuart Skinner blocker side, knotting the game at four and setting the stage for Horvat’s heroics in overtime.
“What a ride it was,” Barzal said. “I thought we came out and had a great start, then we were always down by a goal, we tie it up… they could have really sunk us.
I think tonight was big just for the morale in this room, just to know that it doesn’t really matter how the game goes. We knew the entire night we were getting it done.”
Overtime Chemistry Paying Off
The Islanders are now a perfect 6-0 in overtime this season, and a big part of that success is the growing chemistry between Horvat, Barzal, and Schaefer in the 3-on-3 format. The trio’s blend of speed, skill, and hockey IQ has become a nightmare for opposing defenses.
“I think Schaefer is such a threat out there with his feet,” Barzal said. “If you start me, him and Bo, there’s so much offense out there for us to score. That’s a big key, and we have a lot of smart players.”
Schaefer’s emergence has added a new dimension to the Isles’ OT strategy - and his poise as a rookie continues to impress.
Second Period Woes Continue
Despite the win, the Islanders’ second-period struggles remain a concern. On Tuesday, they managed just five shots on goal in the middle frame and surrendered two goals, allowing the Penguins to flip a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 lead heading into the third.
Chinakhov tied the game early in the second with a shot that beat Sorokin cleanly. Then, in a bizarre sequence, Rust’s shot from behind the goal line deflected off Sorokin’s glove and into the net - the kind of goal that can deflate a team. But to their credit, the Islanders regrouped and responded.
That second-period dip followed a similar trend from Saturday’s loss to Nashville, where the Isles were outshot 22-13 and gave up control of the game in the middle frame.
Quick Strike Response
One positive sign? The Islanders responded to adversity with some quick-strike offense late in the first.
After falling behind 1-0, Horvat tied it up by cleaning up a rebound at the crease. Just 75 seconds later, Schaefer stepped into a shot from the point and beat Skinner with four seconds left in the period.
That goal - Schaefer’s 16th of the season - brought him within one of tying Denis Potvin’s franchise record for goals by a rookie defenseman.
It was a much-needed momentum shift, especially after the team gave up two goals in rapid succession in their previous outing against Washington.
Special Teams Snapshot
The Isles’ power play continues to sputter - now 0-for-7 over the last three games - but the penalty kill has held strong, going 6-for-6 over the past two contests. If they can get the man advantage back on track, they’ll be a much tougher out down the stretch.
Sorokin Stands Tall
Ilya Sorokin turned aside 31 shots to earn his 19th win of the season. While it wasn’t his cleanest outing, he made timely saves when it mattered, especially in the third period and overtime. On the other side, Stuart Skinner made 18 saves in the OT loss for Pittsburgh.
Where Things Stand
With the win, the Islanders (67 points) now sit just one point back of the Penguins (68 points) for second place in the Metropolitan Division. Pittsburgh still holds two games in hand, but the Isles are keeping pace - and Tuesday night’s win could be the kind of turning point that builds belief in a locker room.
They’ve now gone 6-2-1 in the second half of back-to-back sets, showing resilience when fatigue could be a factor. With the playoff race heating up, that kind of grit will be key.
For now, the Islanders can enjoy a hard-earned two points - and a reminder that when they play with urgency and belief, they can skate with anyone in the division.