Islanders Take 4-3 Overtime Win in Minnesota

The New York Islanders beat the Minnesota Wild 4-3 in overtime on Thursday night in St. Paul, handing Minnesota its first home loss of the season. Matthew Schaefer converted a two-on-one chance off the rush to end it, giving the Islanders their first win in four extra-period games this season.

The victory came after Matt Boldy tied the game for Minnesota with 3:53 left in regulation. Adam Pelech had put New York ahead 7:14 into the third period, scoring after a puck battle along the boards floated to him; the shot deflected off Michael McCarron's leg and past goaltender Jesper Wallstedt. Earlier, Schaefer tied the game at one late in the first period on Emil Heineman's rebound, and Simon Holmstrom set up Bo Horvat for a deflection at 1:41 of the second to make it 2-1.

Entering the third period tied 2-2, the Islanders held an 8-3 edge in high-danger chances at five-on-five. That edge came even after defenseman Ryan Pulock left the game with an upper-body injury after playing two shifts and 51 seconds. The Islanders also killed all three of their penalties.

The game marked the first time this season the Islanders faced a Stanley Cup contender on the road. Minnesota's top line of Joel Eriksson Ek, Boldy and Kirill Kaprizov generated zone time, as did Quinn Hughes, but the Islanders limited the middle of the ice and outplayed Minnesota when that group was off the ice. Schaefer finished with a goal and a secondary assist, matching Hughes' output.

Goaltender Ilya Sorokin allowed three goals after giving up six in his previous start against Dallas. Eriksson Ek beat him clean from 41 feet out 27 seconds into the game, Hughes lifted a sharp-angle backhand past his pads late in the second, and Boldy's tying goal also got through. Sorokin started the game after the six-goal outing against the Stars.

The Islanders' homestand begins with Edmonton, Carolina and New Jersey visiting UBS Arena.