Did you miss the wildest NHL game of the week? Read how the Islanders tie game late, send Canadiens to OT loss thanks to a historic night by rookie Matthew Schaefer.
Hockey fans were treated to an absolute rollercoaster on Thursday night. If you want to know how the Islanders tie game late, send Canadiens to OT loss, you are in the right place. It was a game filled with revenge goals, broken records, and heart-stopping overtime magic.
Brief Table of Key Features
| Game Detail | Information |
| Final Score | NY Islanders 4, Montreal Canadiens 3 (OT) |
| OT Winner | Jean-Gabriel Pageau (1:46) |
| Historic Record | Matthew Schaefer (18th goal of the season) |
| Top Performers | Noah Dobson (2G), Matthew Schaefer (2G) |
| Goaltenders | Sorokin (21 saves), Montembeault (22 saves) |
A Tale of Two Halves Before the OT Drama
The matchup at the Bell Centre started off heavily in favor of the home team. Noah Dobson, playing against his former squad, put on an absolute clinic early on. He opened the scoring in the first period with a slick wrist shot and followed it up in the second Islanders tie game late period with a booming power-play slap shot. At 2-0, it looked like Montreal had total control. However, hockey is a game of momentum, and fans were about to witness exactly how the Islanders tie game late, send Canadiens to OT loss.
Matthew Schaefer Makes NHL History
You simply cannot talk about this incredible comeback without mentioning rookie sensation Matthew Schaefer. Late in the second period, the 2025 No. 1 overall pick completely took over. He scored two massive goals in less than a minute, tying the game 2-2. His second tally was his 18th of the season, officially breaking Phil Housley’s all-time NHL record for the most goals by an 18-year-old defenseman in league history. His historic effort was the spark New York desperately needed, setting the perfect stage to see how the Islanders tie game late, send Canadiens to OT loss.
The Third Period Rollercoaster
The third period was incredibly tense and fiercely contested. Cole Caufield managed to put Montreal back in front, 3-2, midway through the frame after tapping in a loose puck that trickled through Ilya Sorokin’s pads. As the clock ticked down, New York grew desperate and pulled their goalie for an extra attacker. With just over a minute left in regulation, Anders Lee masterfully deflected a Bo Horvat shot past Samuel Montembeault. This clutch 3-3 equalizer is exactly what made the headlines read: Islanders tie game late, send Canadiens to OT loss.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau Seals the Victory
Once the game hit the 3-on-3 overtime period, the tension in the arena was absolutely electric. Overtime in the NHL is always unpredictable, but New York quickly capitalized on their sudden wave of momentum. Just 1:46 into the extra frame, Jean-Gabriel Pageau found himself on a partial breakaway up the left side of the ice. He cleverly cut to the front of the net and slipped a beautiful backhand shot right under Montembeault’s pads. The bench erupted, cementing the fact that the Islanders tie game late, send Canadiens to OT loss to safely secure their third consecutive win of the season.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this matchup had everything a hockey purist could ever ask for. From Dobson’s two revenge goals to Schaefer’s historic milestone, it was truly a night to remember. Ultimately, the resilience of the New York squad proved to be too much for the home team to handle in the clutch moments. The thrilling way the Islanders tie game late, send Canadiens to OT loss shows exactly why they are a dangerous force in the league right now. Montreal still extended their point streak, but the night completely belonged to New York.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Who scored the game-winning goal in overtime?
Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored the game-winner just 1:46 into overtime, capping off the night where the Islanders tie game late, send Canadiens to OT loss.
Q2: What NHL record did Matthew Schaefer break?
Schaefer scored his 18th goal of the season, breaking the all-time NHL record for the most goals scored by an 18-year-old defenseman.
Q3: How many goals did Noah Dobson score in this game?
Noah Dobson had a fantastic game against his former team, scoring two goals for the Montreal Canadiens to give them an early lead.
Q4: Who scored the tying goal for New York in the third period?
With the goalie pulled for an extra attacker, Anders Lee deflected a shot by Bo Horvat at 18:19 of the third period to tie the game 3-3.
Q5: How many saves did the two goaltenders make?
New York’s Ilya Sorokin made 21 saves to secure the win, while Montreal’s Samuel Montembeault stopped 22 shots in the tough overtime defeat.
