Mathew Barzal scored an overtime goal at the 2:11 mark to secure a 4-3 win for the New York Islanders over the St. Louis Blues on March 11. The victory came after the Islanders overcame a three-goal deficit at Enterprise Center.
The result is significant as it keeps the Islanders in third place in the Metropolitan Division with 79 points, tying them with the Pittsburgh Penguins, who have a game in hand. The Columbus Blue Jackets remain three points behind after their own win.
Cal Ritchie, JG Pageau, and Bo Horvat also scored for the Islanders during regulation play. Ilya Sorokin made 20 saves on 23 shots, while Joel Hofer stopped 46 of 49 shots for St. Louis. The Islanders recorded a season-high of 49 shots and limited their opponents to just 23.
Head Coach Patrick Roy said, “Winning four out of those six games, that puts you in the playoffs at that rate. This was an important game. Winning that one makes a big difference because every team in our division got a point today.”
Barzal’s overtime goal marked his seventh career OT winner and completed four unanswered goals by the Islanders. It also made them the first team in NHL history to achieve a perfect 10-0 record in overtime games this season. Roy described Barzal’s goal as “a phenomenal goal,” adding, “What a move he had there, and the quality of the shot.”
A key moment came when an offside challenge by the Islanders video team overturned what would have been a fourth Blues goal. Barzal said, “Sometimes you get a bounce that can turn a game, but obviously that offsides call was massive. It kept us in the hockey game and we found a way.”
Ritchie drew a double minor for high sticking early in the third period, leading to two power-play goals for New York—one credited to Ritchie and another by Horvat—which tied up the score before overtime.
Reflecting on their road trip split, Barzal said, “It could have been 1-3-0 which would’ve been ugly. So to finish 2-2-0 is a pretty successful road trip.”
Brayden Schenn played his first game against his former team since being traded to New York four days earlier and received recognition from fans and players alike during his return.
The Islanders will next face the Los Angeles Kings at UBS Arena on Friday.
