Bo Horvat played the hero Tuesday night, capping off a two-goal performance with an overtime breakaway finish that lifted the New York Islanders to a 5-4 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. It was the kind of clutch moment the Islanders needed to snap a two-game skid and regain some momentum heading into the Olympic break.
Let’s start with that OT winner. Just 52 seconds into the extra frame, Horvat found himself all alone and made no mistake, burying the game-winner with the poise of a veteran who’s been in that moment before. It was a high-pressure finish in a game that had plenty of swings - and Horvat delivered when it mattered most.
Mathew Barzal was another key piece for New York, notching a goal and an assist. His third-period equalizer midway through the frame was a turning point, halting the Penguins' momentum after they had taken a 3-2 lead. Barzal's ability to read the ice and find soft spots in the defense continues to be one of the Islanders’ most valuable assets.
But this game wasn’t just about the stars. Rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer made his presence felt in a big way.
The 18-year-old blasted a slap shot from the point in the final seconds of the first period to give the Islanders a 2-1 lead - his 16th goal of the season. That’s not just impressive for a rookie defenseman; it’s rarefied air.
Schaefer’s confidence and offensive instincts are well beyond his years.
Ryan Pulock also came through in the clutch, tying the game late in the third after Pittsburgh had regained the lead. Pulock’s goal, coming with just under six minutes remaining, was the kind of response good teams need when the game’s on the line.
On the other side, the Penguins showed plenty of fight despite the loss. Justin Brazeau had a strong night with a goal and an assist, including a slick redirection of a Brett Kulak shot to briefly give Pittsburgh a 4-3 lead in the third. He also set up Anthony Mantha’s opening goal with a clean feed into the slot midway through the first period.
Pittsburgh got additional goals from Egor Chinakhov and Bryan Rust. Rust’s tally came on a sharp-angled shot from behind the goal line - a heads-up play after Sidney Crosby corralled a loose puck and slid it his way. It was the kind of veteran connection we’ve seen from Crosby and his linemates time and time again.
In net, Ilya Sorokin was busy for the Islanders, turning aside 31 shots. While he was caught off guard on Rust’s goal, Sorokin held strong during key stretches, especially late in regulation. Stuart Skinner made 18 saves for Pittsburgh but didn’t get much help in overtime after the defensive breakdown that led to Horvat’s breakaway.
This was a back-and-forth battle that saw leads change hands and momentum swing wildly - the kind of game that tests a team’s resilience. For the Islanders, it was a statement win at a crucial time. With just one game left before the Olympic break, they’ll be looking to build on this kind of gritty, balanced performance.
Next up: The Penguins head to Buffalo on Thursday to face the Sabres, looking to regroup after back-to-back losses.