Islanders history: Dominant power play drives comeback vs. Detroit Red Wings

Do you remember that day the New York Islanders scored four goals on the same power play? That day was two years ago today in a game against the Detroit Red Wings.

It was two years ago today, that the New York Islanders stagged one of their greatest comebacks in team history. Down 5-2 with only ten minutes left to play, the Isles were able to win 7-6 in overtime. Thanks to their power play.

On February 9, 2018, the Isles were playing the Detroit Red Wings. With a 26-23-6 record, the Isles were just out of a playoff spot with Columbus holding the tiebreaker. Every point was, as it always is, vital.

So when the Isles found themselves down 5-2 to the Detroit Red Wings with only ten minutes left in the third period there was a real feeling that an opportunity to push into the playoff picture had passed. Until

Tyler Bertuzzi

took a major-penalty for slashing

Cal Clutterbuck

.

Thanks, Tyler

At the 13:27 mark of the third period, Red Wings forward Tyler Bertuzzi had had enough of Cal Clutterbuck’s shenanigans so he decided to let Cal know by two handing him over the shin.

See the incident here.

The refs gave Bertuzzi a five-minute major and a game misconduct for the hit. Giving the Islanders a great opportunity to try and get themselves into the game or at the very least cut the deficit.

And they took it.

Over the next three minutes and 23 seconds, the Islanders would score four on the power play. Goals from Brock Nelson, Anders Lee, Nick Leddy, and Josh Bailey powered the Isles from a 5-2 deficit to a 6-5 lead.

(Mathew Barzal would get three assists during that span.)

Going into the game their power play was ranked15th with a 20.6 percent efficiency. After the Detroit game, their efficiency jumped to sixth in the league with a 22 percent efficiency.

Of course, Detroit would score a garbage time got to even things up at six.

In overtime, Brock Nelson would complete his hat-trick and collect both points for the Islanders. The win pushed the Islanders into the playoff picture by jumping over the Columbus Blue Jackets with 60 points.

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It was one of those games you’ll remember seeing for the rest of your life. The Islanders were for all-intents-and-purposes “out of it”, but thanks to a lapse in judgment from Bertuzzi they were able to rally back and take two points with four goals on the same power play. You’ll likely never see that again.