Islanders top five goals of the last decade

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John Tavares #91 of the New York Islanders celebrates. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

4. John Tavares OT Winner Game 3 vs Washington

After missing the postseason for five years straight, the New York Islanders were back in the dance thanks to a 101 point season. Their first 100+ point season since 1983-84. Their reward was a date with the Washington Capitals in the first round.

They’d come to the Coliseum with a 1-1 split in the series.

The Islanders dominated game three in regulation with 42 shots to the Caps 25. But they could only manage a single goal with Kyle Okposo netting in the second period. Thanks to Niklas Backstrom scoring at 13:54 of the third and overtime was needed.

Just fifteen seconds into the extra frame, John Tavares finds a gap in Branden Holtby to take the victory and go up 2-1 in the series.

Was it a pretty goal? No. But again, there’s just something more when it comes to overtime winners in the playoffs.

Not to mention that this was the first playoff victory at the Nassau Coliseum since April 28, 2002. That’s almost a full 13 years between playoff victories at home. So that’s why it means so much more.