With just over five minutes left in regulation, the New York Islanders tied up their match with the New Jersey Devils in Newark, 3-3.
Thomas Greiss got the win for the Isles in Newark – file photo by Lewis Bleiman
Anders Lee finished the abbreviated rally with a goal late in extra time for the 4-3 win.
“We kind of stuck with it,” Lee said. “It was an important back-to-back for us, and now we have a few days between games. But we needed to take care of business tonight. It’s a tough building to come in and play, especially on a back-to-back.
“On the winner, I just kind of popped it out to (Devon Toews), and he found me in the slot and I tried to use their defenseman as a bit of a screen.”
Tom Kuhnhackl forced extra time with his third period strike.
“Being down late in the game, we knew to be aggressive on the forecheck,” Kuhnhackl said. “[Michael Dal Colle] did a great job of staying in there and made that play to the blue line and I just tried to put the puck to the net because [Derick Brassard] was by himself. It hit the defenseman’s stick and went in, so a good bounce for us.”
Thomas Greiss made 32 saves to get the win.
“We played a good game. especially with the back-to-back,” Greiss said. “We had energy, pressed a lot and had a lot of shots on net and got good looks.
“On the 3-on-1, I just watched the puck and prayed for the best.”
Nico Hischier, P.K. Subban and Kyle Palmieri scored for the Devils.
“It’s overtime, you want to win the game,” Hischier said. “You want to get that second point. We had a couple of chances. The difference is they buried one.”
Casey Cizikas and Jordan Eberle were strikers for the Isles as well.
“We needed a bounce and got a couple tonight with Casey leading us off,” Lee said. “That was great, and it took the pressure off a little bit. We can then go out and play with the lead.”
[WATCH: All Islanders vs. Devils highlights]
Mackenzie Blackwood made 37 saves in the loss.
“All around, guys have to have their heads up. We played a good enough game to win it. They just buried that one at the end, and that’s the difference tonight,” Hischier said.
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