3 Takeaways: Islanders Win Overtime Thriller vs. Flames

These New York Islanders are starting to feel that feeling again.
A thrilling comeback victory over the Colorado Avalanche last week helped bring that resiliency back, and their latest third-period stunner against the Calgary Flames showed it wasn't a one-time thing.

In a 4-3 overtime victory against the Flames, the Islanders rallied from a slow start and a 3-1 deficit to tie the game and force overtime for the first time this season.
Noah Dobson scored the game-winning goal on the power play in overtime for his second career OT winner, while Kyle Palmieri, Anders Lee and Sebastian Aho also scored for the Islanders. Mikael Backlund (2G) and Elias Lindholm scored for the Flames.
Mathew Barzal tallied three assists and Sorokin made a season-high 43 saves in the win.
"We knew we didn't have our best first 40, but we stuck with it, we got one in the third, crowd got us momentum and we just carried on from there," Dobson said. "It's not pretty, but it's a big win, I thought it showed a lot of character coming back there and just a big goal in overtime."
The Islanders finally beat the Flames after a stretch of four straight losses dating back to 2019-20. The win was the Islanders' second third-period comeback of the season, after a three-goal comeback against the Colorado Avalanche where the Islanders also entered the third period down 3-1.

ISLES GET OFF TO SLOW START:

ISLANDERS 4, FLAMES 3 OT
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Full Highlights
Postgame: Lambert
Postgame: Lee
Postgame: Barzal
Postgame: Dobson
KINGER'S CALLS
Dobson's OT Winner
Palmieri Snaps Wrister
Lee Closes the Gap
Aho's First of the Year
For the second straight game, the Islanders got off to a slow start. After managing just 12 shots on goal through two periods to the Red Wings' 22 the Islanders were outshot 18-4 in the first on Monday night against the Flames. Unlike the scoreless first in the Motor City, Mikael Backlund found open space in the slot to score at 11:16 of the first period before the Islanders had even tallied a shot.
"We weren't playing well to our identity," Dobson said. "We weren't closing guys, we were slow to pucks, we didn't get any forecheck going."
Sebastian Aho scored on the Islanders' first shot of the game just 70 seconds later, but the onslaught continued, and Elias Lindholm scored on a deflected Noah Hanifin point shot to pull the Flames up 2-1 to end the period. The Islanders were outshot 30-12 in the first 40 minutes.
"When you start like that, there's concern, but the thing that I like, and the thing that I balance it with is I thought our players took it upon themselves and stepped up to the plate," Head Coach Lane Lambert said. "It was all them. They came out after the second period and certainly took charge and had that belief."

ISLANDERS RALLY BACK IN THE THIRD:

The Islanders generated more opportunities in the third period, just as they did in Detroit. The Islanders were outshooting the Flames 11-6 in the third before Anders Lee scored to bring the Isles within one, knocking in a Brock Nelson rebound at the side of the net. Just under a minute later, Kyle Palmieri tied the game at 3-3, snapping a shot underneath Jacob Markstrom.
Third periods have been a strength for the Islanders this season, as the Isles have outscored their opponents 22-11 in the third period of games, tied with Buffalo for the most in the NHL. In the third period, Brock Nelson, Anders Lee and Mathew Barzal played on the same line, the first time that line has gotten significant play in a game. Those three have been the Islanders' top scorers this year. All three earned a point on Lee's goal in the third.
The third period rally forced the Islanders into overtime for the first time this season, and Noah Dobson won it for the Islanders on the power play, hammering a shot through a screen and past Markstrom. The Islanders found their way to their second third-period comeback victory, after the win against the Colorado Avalanche.
"That Colorado game was one of those games where, there's little moments throughout the year that can really change the course of the season," Barzal said. "I think that was one of them, and I think that played a little bit in tonight just knowing going into the third we hadn't had our best game and knowing we could still do it. That's what the locker room is like right now."

BARZAL TALLIES THREE POINTS:

Mathew Barzal continued his quest for the (reverse) NHL Cy Young with a season-high three-assist night. Barzal's opening assist was perhaps his best play of the game, a cross ice pass through two defenders to Sebastian Aho who was driving the net for the defenseman's first of the year.
Barzal also fed Nelson in the zone for the secondary assist on Anders Lee's goal in the third period. He capped off his big night with the primary assist on Dobson's game winner. Barzal faked the shot on the power play and then passed it off to Dobson for the one-timer.
The game was one of Barzal's best so far this season. He now has 14 points in 13 games, tied for the team lead in scoring with Brock Nelson.

NEXT GAME:

The Islanders are back in action on Tuesday night as they take on the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Puck drop is at 7 p.m.