TAMPA, Fla. — In an exciting matchup on Saturday night, Tony DeAngelo netted the game-winner just 33 seconds into overtime, leading the New York Islanders to a narrow 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. This win marked the Islanders’ seventh consecutive victory, solidifying their impressive run.
The game’s scoring began in the second period when Jake Guentzel managed to redirect a shot from Erik Cernak into the net at 5:39, giving the Lightning an early edge. However, Adam Boqvist, making his debut for the Islanders after being claimed off waivers from the Florida Panthers earlier that week, quickly answered back by capitalizing on a rebound from Mat Barzal’s initial breakaway attempt. Boqvist’s goal came in the closing minutes of the second period at 18:16, tying the game at 1-1.
In the third period, Kyle Palmieri put the Islanders ahead at 6:41, but the lead was short-lived as Nikita Kucherov equalized with only 46.1 seconds remaining in regulation. The Islanders’ goaltender Ilya Sorokin showcased his skills with 28 saves throughout the game, while Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy turned aside 33 shots in the loss.
Throughout the match, the Lightning faced challenges in finding the back of the net. Notably, this marked the fourth time in six games that Tampa Bay scored fewer than three goals. Guentzel’s tally marked a significant milestone, as it was his 26th goal in just 50 games, making it the second-highest total for a player in their first season with the franchise.
As for key moments, a critical sequence occurred late in the second period while Tampa Bay held a power play. Kucherov struck the crossbar, and despite Brayden Point’s attempts from the slot and two close-range shots from Guentzel being thwarted, the Islanders capitalized on their opportunity moments later.
Despite their efforts, Tampa Bay’s lack of offensive production has led to a dismal record of 0-14-3 this season when scoring two or fewer goals.
Looking ahead, the Islanders will travel to Florida for their next game on Sunday, while the Lightning are set to host the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night.
