New York Islanders Win Thriller Over Montreal Canadiens (Highlights)

The New York Islanders win 5-4 in overtime for their second win in a row against the Montreal Canadiens. Only this, they truly didn’t deserve it.

After a 7-2 dismantling of the New York Rangers, the New York Islanders started the second half of the second with a breath of fresh air and a new lease on life. And then they traveled to Montréal to take on the Canadiens.

The Habs aren’t the same team of a few years ago. There’s a reason this team sits near the bottom of the Eastern Conference and just can’t seem to get out. But whenever Carey Price is in the opposing net its going to be a tough.

Unless you give Anthony Beauvillier the puck at the top of the faceoff circle unopposed. That’s twice in two years that Beauvillier scores the exact same goal.

Within a few minutes the Islanders were up 2-0 vs the Habs. Things were clicking and goal very well. And then something happened in terms of the moment and the Canadiens just kept the Islanders in their zone for the remainder of the period.

That was Mathew Barzal’s eighth point in seven periods. Let that sink in for a second. Eight points in seven periods. This kid just keeps getting better.

Habs Get Back Into It

And ofcourse, as the New York Islanders are apt to do, the Montréal Canadiens clawed their way back into the game. With goals from Nicolas Deslauries and Paul Brion it was all locked up at two as the game entered the second period.

Then two minutes and change into the second fram Adam Pelech gets in to the goal fest. Netting his first goal of the season and giving the Islanders the lead back again.

The New York Islanders were again being hemmed into their own zone by the Canadiens during the second period. The Isles just couldnt get passed the Habs forecheck. It was something that would occur for the rest of the night.

But somehow, after even going a man down, the Islanders found a way. It was John Tavares on a short-handed breakaway who made no mistake, putting the Isles up by two once again.

But again the New York Islanders couldnt get out of the Canadiens forecheck. The Habs pinned the Islanders into their own zone and eventually powered their way back into the game with goals from Jeff Petry and Johnathan Drouin.

After three period the game was still deadlocked at 4-4. Overtime was going to decided who took the extra point. And that’s where Barzal and Tavares took over.

John Tavares might have scored the overtime goal, but about 30 seconds before that Mathew Barzal created a play out of nothing, by himself. Honestly. Twice. Twice! He passed to himself to set up Jordan Eberle, who couldnt finish.

Next: New York Islanders NHL Trade Deadline Preview 2.0

Big credit for the win goes to Thomas Greiss who stuck in there and made 52 saves on the night. That’s right. He stopped 52 shots. So even thought he let in four goals, his save percentage was 0.929 on the night.