The Upshot: The NY Islanders blow lead and drop season opener to Utah in overtime

HOW IT HAPPENED

Dylan Guenther scored the game-winner, his second of the night, to lift Utah Hockey Club to a 5-4 win over the New York Islanders in OT at UBS Arena on Thursday night. Josh Doan tied the game with 1:54 left, just 13 seconds after Maxim Tsyplakov scored his first NHL goal to give the Isles the lead. Lawson Crouse and Barrett Hayton also scored, and Connor Ingram stopped 21 shots to help Utah win their second consecutive win to start the season. Anthony Duclair scored to open the scoring, Bo Horvat and Jean-Gabriel Pageau also scored. Semyon Varlamov made 21 saves in the loss.

WHAT WENT RIGHT

The new guy, Anthony Duclair, was a difference-maker. Duclair scored the first goal of the game and the first of his Islanders career on the power-play when Noah Dobson's shot deflected off his skate and in past Ingram. Utah challenged the play for goalie interference, but the call on the ice stood. Duclair later picked up a primary assist when he set up Bo Horvat in the slot to tie the game at 2-2 early in the third period. The top line carried their momentum over from the preseason.

WHAT WENT WRONG

Special Teams ... again. Yes, the Islanders scored a power-play goal to start the game, but they allowed goals on both Utah power plays after finishing as the worst penalty-kill team in the league last season. Despite scoring on their first power-play opportunity, the Isles finished 1 for 6, including failing to capitalize on a double-minor in the third after a high-stick caught Anders Lee off the face-off. Overall, they maintained puck possession well but were far too passive and didn't get any shots or traffic in front of the net with the man advantage.

STATS OF THE GAME

Per NHL PR, Dylan Guenther became the fifth player in NHL history to score multiple goals in each of a franchise’s first two games. The others: Cy Denneny (4 GP w/ SEN), Joe Malone (2 GP w/ MTL), Corb Denneny (2 GP w/ TAN) and Reg Noble (2 GP w/ TAN). Utah has recorded 10 goals so far in 2024-25, which is the fifth most by a franchise through their first two games in their inaugural season.

SOCIAL MEDIA MOMENT OF THE GAME

WHAT'S NEXT

The Islanders head on a road trip starting on Saturday night against the Dallas Stars.

Face-off is set for 8:00 PM EDT.