Game Recap: Islanders 4, Devils 3 OT

Mathew Barzal scored the OT winner at 3:40 of the extra frame on Friday, as the New York Islanders beat the New Jersey Devils 4-3 at Prudential Center.
Barzal was sprung on a breakaway for the game winner, knocking his own rebound past Keith Kinkaid for his third goal of the season. The win secured an extra point for the Islanders and a sense of relief after allowing the tying goal with 10.9 seconds to play. The Isles also snapped a two-game losing streak in the process.

"Credit to all of our guys tonight, I thought that was one of our best games in a while," Barzal said. "It would have been nice to not give that point, but we'll take the extra one and move on from there."
Jordan Eberle, Anders Lee and Nick Leddy also scored for the Islanders while Thomas Greiss stopped 39 shots. Taylor Hall, Brian Boyle and Marcus Johansson scored for the Devils. Kinkaid made 31 saves in the loss.

BARZAL CAPS WILD FINISH AFTER ISLES LOSE LEAD LATE:

Barzal's goal capped a wild finish to Friday's mid-afternoon affair.
Nick Leddy put the Islanders ahead 3-2 with 7:15 to play in the third period, skating coast-to-coast virtually untouched and burying his own rebound past Kinkaid. Leddy's first of the season looked destined to be the game winner, but Marcus Johansson ultimately sent the game to overtime with 10.9 seconds to play, whacking a rebound out of the air at the side of the net past Greiss.
Leddy said there was no panic or letdown after the tying goal, which was evident in overtime. Both teams had their chances in OT, trading odd-man rushes, but Brock Nelson stood Kyle Palmieri up at the Islanders blue line to spring Barzal on the breakaway. From there the game was in Barzal's hands, making a quick move and gathering his own rebound for the winner.
"We just wanted to stick to how we were playing all game," Leddy said. "We did a lot of really good things throughout the game and we see how we have to play to be successful. We stuck to our structure there in overtime and Barzy had a great goal."

ISLES HAPPY WITH RESPONSE:

After allowing goals in bunches in both of the Islanders last two losses, Barry Trotz wanted to see his team not have any sagging moments on Friday.
The Islanders never trailed on Friday afternoon, but answered the call every time the Devils managed to tie things up. Anders Lee potted a Valtteri Filppula feed less than three minutes after Taylor Hall made it 1-1. Leddy answered for Brian Boyle's 2-2 goal early in the third period and Barzal ultimately answered for Johansson's late tying goal.
"I liked our response, there was no sag," Trotz said. "I'd been complaining about a sag after a goal, but we didn't have that today. We were hard, we were on track of doing the things I like, the responses I like."

PENALTY KILL COMES UP BIG:

The Islanders penalty kill went 3-for-3 on Friday afternoon, including a 1:52 five-on-three to start the game. The power play went 0-for-3 in the game.

CLUTTERBUCK RETURNS:

Cal Clutterbuck returned to the lineup after missing Wednesday's game with an illness.

NEXT GAME:

The Islanders host the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday night at 7 p.m. The Islanders will wear their new third jerseys.