The New York Islanders edged out the New Jersey Devils with a 3-1 victory on Thursday night, just before the Olympic break. Bo Horvat scored the winning goal late in the third period with a backhand shot from the faceoff circle, slipping the puck past Devils’ goalie Jake Allen with 3:27 remaining. Earlier, Casey Cizikas opened the scoring for the Islanders in the second period by knocking in a rebound in front of the net. Matthew Barzal then added an insurance goal by scoring from the air, solidifying their lead.
Zikas put the Islanders ahead 1-0 at 6:30 of the second period after converting a rebound in front of the net. The play started when Allen attempted to clear the puck along the boards, and it ultimately resulted in Cizikas tipping the puck past him after an initial save. Devils’ goalie Allen, who faced 11 shots, kept his team in the game but couldn’t stop the late-game heroics of the Islanders.
Despite recent criticism from coach Sheldon Keefe about his team’s mental toughness, the Devils showed resilience but still fell short against a stronger Islanders squad. Star forward Jack Hughes sat out his third consecutive game due to a lower-body injury, yet the Devils managed to outshoot the Islanders 24-14 and scored on a goal by Nico Isier in the second period, which beat Islanders’ goalie Ilya Sorokin. Allen finished the game with 23 saves.
Looking ahead, the Islanders will travel to Montreal on February 26, while the Devils will host Buffalo on February 25.
Fan Take: This game underscores the unpredictability and intensity of hockey, reminding fans that even without their star players, teams can display resilience and determination. It also highlights the importance of depth and teamwork—factors that make the sport thrilling and keeps fans hooked.
