Bold opening: A dramatic late comeback fuels the Islanders to OT victory after a 2-goal deficit, with Holmstrom delivering the game-winner in overtime. But here’s where it gets controversial: should coach Patrick Roy have pulled the plug earlier on a shaky start, or was New York simply relentless when it counted?
Original headline focus: Holmstrom nets at 1:47 of overtime, lifting the New York Islanders to a 4-3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena. The rally marked the Islanders’ fourth straight win and continued their unbeaten record in overtime this season, now 8-0 after the victory against Columbus (they also beat Montreal 4-3 in a late-stage OT affair on Thursday).
Key sequence and players: Holmstrom gathered a stretch pass from Tony DeAngelo on the right wing, cut to the net, and slipped the puck between Jet Greaves’s pads to end it. Holmstrom emphasized the team’s patience: processing the puck carefully, waiting for the right moment, and avoiding turnovers until the moment arrived.
Supporting contributions: Scott Mayfield and Jean-Gabriel Pageau each produced a goal and an assist, Mathew Barzal notched two assists, and Ilya Sorokin stopped 27 shots as the Islanders improved to 34-21-5. The win also extended their winning streak to four games.
Columbus’ efforts: Zach Werenski had two assists and played a pivotal role, extending his personal point streak to nine games (13 points: two goals, 11 assists), a career best and a franchise-record for a Blue Jackets defenseman. Columbus led 2-0 early, with Isac Lundestrom scoring at 2:30 of the first period after a deflection off Dante Fabbro’s shot. Mason Marchment added a powerfully placed goal at 3:58 of the second, repurposing Werenski’s feed and Coyle’s touch pass from the left slot. Columbus’ coach Rick Bowness highlighted the missed opportunity to stretch the advantage to 3-0, noting Sorokin’s goaltending performance and suggesting the momentum shift came back to bite them.
Comeback mechanics: New York struck twice in 22 seconds to knot the game at 2-2—Anders Lee tipping in a rebound at 11:37, followed by Pageau crashing the net to finish a rebound at 11:59. The go-ahead goal came from Mayfield at 17:10, a wrist shot from the right point that deflected off Kirill Marchenko and Werenski’s skate for his first goal in 26 games. Adam Fantilli tied it for Columbus at 18:58 with a redirect off Werenski’s shot.
Quotes and mood: Blue Jackets’ Werenski acknowledged the frustration of back-to-back games with missed opportunities to secure points, while Islanders forward Cole Coyle reflected on moments of strong hockey and a sense that the team controls its destiny when they stay the course.
Notes and context: The game featured four Olympians from the two teams, recognized prior to puck drop. Islanders’ Ondrej Palat and Bo Horvat represented Team Czechia and Team Canada, respectively, while Columbus’ Elvis Merzlikins and Werenski carried Olympic pedigrees. Notably, the Islanders were not penalized in this game, and Barzal’s six-game point streak reached 10 points in total during that streak. Marchment’s production continues to impress since his trade acquisition, marking a club-record pace for goals in a given span after joining the Blue Jackets.
Bottom line: This contest showcased a tense, back-and-forth battle that underscored the Islanders’ resilience in OT and the Blue Jackets’ fight to close gaps despite a two-goal early deficit. Where do you stand on the strategic decisions in this game—was Columbus justified in chasing an extended lead, or did New York’s relentless pressure make the difference once again? Would you have a different take on the pivotal moments that swung momentum in the third period and overtime?
