NEW YORK — In an exhilarating matchup on Thursday night, Simon Holmstrom contributed significantly with a goal and two assists, while Noah Dobson added a goal and an assist as the New York Islanders narrowly secured a 5-4 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Islanders had additional goals from Dennis Cholowski, Bo Horvat, and Max Tsyplakov, with Jean-Gabriel Pageau providing three assists to support the offense. Ilya Sorokin was instrumental in the victory, making 27 saves, helping the Islanders improve their record to 3-2-1 in their last six outings.
On the other hand, Tyler Bertuzzi shined for Chicago with two goals, while Connor Bedard chipped in with a goal and an assist. T.J. Brodie also found the net, but despite their efforts, the Blackhawks have now lost six out of their last seven games. Arvid Soderblom started in goal for Chicago, making 14 saves before being replaced by rookie Drew Commesso at 7:58 of the third period, who managed to make two saves.
Holmstrom gave the Islanders a vital lead at 2-1 when he scored with 5:54 remaining in the second period. Dobson, Horvat, and Tsyplakov then struck quickly in the early third period, scoring in a span of just 2:17 to expand the Islanders’ lead to 5-1.
Chicago fought back as Brodie brought the score to 5-2 with less than nine minutes to play. Bertuzzi then scored twice within a minute to close the gap to just one goal, with only 1:10 left on the clock.
Takeaways from the game highlight that the Islanders are still trying to find effective forward combinations, demonstrating their ongoing adjustments for improved chemistry. There could be reinforcements on the horizon as Mathew Barzal and Anthony Duclair were seen practicing in regular jerseys prior to the game.
For the Blackhawks, their penalty-killing unit, which is ranked sixth in the NHL, succeeded in neutralizing the Islanders’ three power-play attempts, showcasing their defensive strength.
A pivotal moment came during a second-period television timeout when Islanders coach Patrick Roy delivered an impassioned speech to his players. This inspired the team to rally and score four consecutive goals, effectively sealing the game’s outcome.
Another notable statistic is that the Islanders surrendered another power-play goal, which brings their home penalty kill record to 15 for 29 this season.
Looking ahead, the Blackhawks are set to take on New Jersey on Saturday to conclude a three-game road trip, while the Islanders will visit Chicago on Sunday to kick off their own three-game journey.