The New York Islanders rally past the Pittsburgh Penguins with Bo Horvat’s overtime heroics. Can the Islanders’ resilience fuel a push for the playoffs?
Gil Martin breaks down the Islanders’ thrilling 5-4 OT victory, spotlighting Bo Horvat’s two-goal, three-point night and the impact of a shortened bench under coach Patrick Roy. Key topics include Anthony Duclair’s benching, the ongoing power play struggles, and how Mathew Barzal’s dynamic play is transforming the team’s overtime success. The show also spotlights defensive breakdowns, farm system standouts, and what this bounce-back win means for the Islanders’ playoff race.
Will the Islanders’ persistence and evolving roster propel them into Stanley Cup contention?
All this and more on today’s Locked On Islanders Podcast with Gil Martin.
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29 Comments
I like what Holmstrom did on the Pulock goal. Keeping the puck away from Pittsburgh and getting the puck to Pulock.
Based on what happened last year, I'm guessing it's easy for Duke to lose his confidence. When he, Barzal, and Lee were benched in the third, it may have affected him the most of the three.
I dont enjoy being a negative Nancy, but Im a very realistic fan…..Barzal had a goal and an assist tonight but my god he has looked awful with the puck lately!!
Vs the Caps 2 turnovers for goals.
Tonight I counted 3 TOs and his zone entries on the PP look terrible…and of course he STILL skates in circles, stalls the PP (when it actually DOES get set up, which isnt often) and seemingly demands Schaef passes puck passed right back him. Its infuriating.
Am I really the only fan that wants us to move him while we can still get incredible value for him?? (Not now obviously, after the season)
This is as schizophrenic a team as I can remember in recent history! Looks like they overachieve on flying emotions against better or top teams, but often flop against some of the bottom feeders and stumbling teams. I have learned to worry more looking at their schedule facing struggling teams, except the ones they have a rivalry with like the Rangers and can get charged emotionally!
I wouldn't get too excited about this win, unless the Isles get to face Skinner for the rest of the season
Remember being told Lou was a genius and HOF? HOF for what he did 25 years ago. He couldn't even get Bridgeport going but Darche did in a few months.
Super stoked for the win, that Horvat got a couple, and Schaef etc…but damn was that a frustrating game to watch.
Although the team did a poor job of keeping the puck out of the zone and making things easier for Sorokin, the offense actually showed up. Now let's spank NJ and take a nice vacation and regroup mentally and physically!! Go Isles!
Hello Gil, greetings from Miami. What a rollercoaster that was, it felt like we were getting zero points, and somehow we walked away with two. It was not pretty but like you said, this team really does rise to these kinds of occasions. I’ll be at the Bruins–Panthers game this evening, hoping for an entertaining matchup. LGI.
When we show up we play when we don’t show up we don’t play. As many say this schedule is overwhelming and doesn’t allow players the time for players to recover from complete exhaustion. We can’t forget the feel good Rally Bird 🐦 on ice 🧊 for the game. Poor little fella our good luck 🍀 charm thank goodness we got him back to the wild. Getting back to the game did Roy call Duke god awful again? Sorry I am not a fan of benching a player for a whole game for a mistake. You then put pressure on other players to eat Duke’s minutes. Then perhaps 🤔 an offensive player is subtracted from your offense. Sorry 😞 I am still not a big fan of Roy and some of the decisions he makes. This afternoon the trading freeze will go into effect will Darche make a move to add offensive talent that makes sense or will Darche hold and enjoy 2 first round picks. If JGP is not extended then he must be traded but make no mistake you will not be able to replace an important player on our team. Lee, Drouin, Shabanov, should be made available but I feel Darche will let Lee finish this year as an Islander. Kyrou makes the most sense for a trade but it will cost Darche a first rd pick, Cole Eiserman, and a defensive prospect. Not sure if I want to trade a 1 st or Eiserman. We shall see if Darche continues to try and add for the now or sells some off for the future! It certainly will be interesting. I could see Kyrou with Barzal which could really help the offense but at what cost 💲? As George Michael would sing you gotta have faith.! as Patrick says in his game posters Always Believe! Whatever happens we have already exceeded expectations because of Schaefer and Sorokin. Go Islanders
Barzal had a great game. Made the smart simple plays and was looking too shoot and score. Hope he can bottle that up.
Time to trade Duke. No point of him being here. Benched again, hes been scratched and all that went on lastvyear time for him to go.
Great win but man that 3rd d pair is awful and why does Roy put palat on first line always put these 4th line guys up there strange
great win…let's be serious however if skinner wasn't so horrible…we never win that game
Today could be a big deal if Darche feels trading for a player would make sense to add to the lackluster offense! Trade deadline Freeze 🥶 is at 3 pm! Could see a lot of action today.
Soucy problematic
Gm Gil. While we'll happily take the win BUT lets be clear, defensively this was another poor showing. The Pens forced the Islanders do what they typically struggle to do, score. On the other hand the Pens had no trouble penetrating Islanders defense, if there was a defense, and beating Sorokin, who didn't have his best game.
I said after the last game that they played well enough to lose. Last night, they played just well enough to win. Way too many lapses. If Skinner had been on his game more, that would have been a loss.
Good to see Horvat end his slow Olympic warmup and actually start going to the rough places to score a goal to help his team.
Schaefer is the best defenseman in the NHL at 18 years old. Norris / Calder.
I have been saying this … NO PP units!!! just roll the lines!!! It can't be any worse!!!
Hero of the game .. the sparrow that assisted Bo on Barzy's goal …
Question: do the Islanders need DEFENSE or OFFENSE more? More?
I know they need both..
Patty Roy is right. I love Duke, but he was floating, didn't quick transition when the puck was lost, then instead of taking the man on the Mantha goal, he just went to the front of the net. Not sure if Duke is tired, or just having a bad attitude about defense. this does not bode well for our team, nor for Duke. not good. he will not be back if he keeps doing this stuff. We have too many wingers that are passengers as Al Arbour used to say. sucks, because we have pieces to win, but not with guys floating like this.
Good 🌅, Gil. How are you? The Islanders won against the 🐧 wasn't pretty, but it will do. Bo Horvat scored the GW GOAL IN OT. The Islanders didn't quit. I hope Patrick Roy and Anthony DuClair aren't feuding again, especially since he was on a hot streak. Ilya Sorokin didn't look good. Like I said, I hope they're not fighting again. Jonathan Drouin hasn't scored a goal since November. Hero, Bo Horvat for scoring the GW GOAL in OT. 🐐, the PP and COMMUNITY EFFORT ON DEFENSE.
HAPPY 🎂 JOE SACCO. He scored a goal and an assist in a loss in Vancouver. Hear from you later, Gil, but before I go, I compared Carson Soucy to Al Neri from The Godfather for being silent but lethal. As for Rip Wheeler from Yellowstone, Soucy's not above getting dirty for doing what he has to do TO GET THE NOB DONE. Now, LGI🏒 🔵 and 🍊.
TCOB against the Devils and put the two bad ones behind us.
Love your shirt. My son was born at U.M.. That campus is so huge it was an experience being there in the 90's.
What a rocket from Matthew Schaefer from the blue line. Can the kid match, or surpass, Denis Potvin's rookie Calder Trophy season with 54 points (17/37)? MS currently has 16/23 for 39, with 25 games remaining. Not impossible. I've always loved Horvat's intensity. Two goals last night and Barzal with 1 goal and two assists. As for duclair, enough already. Has never been consistent in his career, that has seen him on how many teams now? Last night, we saw that Roy is not responsible for Duclair's $h!tty play (captain obvious moment). It has always fallen on duclair. He's not a good hockey player, even with his lucky 6 point night. The Clash would like to know: Should Lee and Pageau stay or go? I say go, with Duclair.
I wonder how many times the video will say something like "it wasn't pretty, but…" HAHAHA. That is this team's slogan, at this point.
I wish we could get Jason Robertsson.
This is the kind of intensity you want to see every game, not just every 3 or 4. Barzal especially shows what he can do when motivated. If he and the rest can bring offense consistently the obvious defensive lapses won't be a kill shot. Columbus is coming hard so can't afford to take a game or even a shift off.