New York Islanders' Bo Horvat celebrates with teammates Tony DeAngelo (4), Casey Cizikas (53) and Noah Dobson (8) after scoring the game-winning goal during the overtime period of an NHL hockey game against the Montreal Canadiens Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault (35) leaves the ice as the New York Islanders celebrates after an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Montreal Canadiens' Brendan Gallagher (11) celebrates after scoring a goal as New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (30) watches during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Islanders' Bo Horvat (14) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Montreal Canadiens Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Islanders' Bo Horvat (14) skates toward his bench after scoring a goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Montreal Canadiens Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Islanders' Bo Horvat celebrates with teammates Tony DeAngelo (4), Casey Cizikas (53) and Noah Dobson (8) after scoring the game-winning goal during the overtime period of an NHL hockey game against the Montreal Canadiens Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
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Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault (35) leaves the ice as the New York Islanders celebrates after an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
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Montreal Canadiens' Brendan Gallagher (11) celebrates after scoring a goal as New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (30) watches during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
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New York Islanders' Bo Horvat (14) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Montreal Canadiens Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
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New York Islanders' Bo Horvat (14) skates toward his bench after scoring a goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Montreal Canadiens Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
NEW YORK (AP) — Bo Horvat scored his second goal of the game 3:37 into overtime to lift the New York Islanders past the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 on Thursday night for their third straight victory.
Ilya Sorokin made 38 saves and had his first two assists of the season, the first Islanders goalie with multiple points in a game. Anthony Duclair and Simon Holmstrom also had goals for the Islanders, who moved within two points of the Canadiens for the second wild-card playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
New York is 7-3-1 in its last 11 since a four-game skid and has won three in a row for the first time since a 7-0 run spanning Jan. 18 to Feb. 1.
Brendan Gallagher tied it for Montreal with 14:16 left after the Canadiens trailed 3-1 early in the third period. Patrik Laine had a goal and an assist and Joshua Roy also scored for the Canadiens. Sam Montembeault made 21 saves.
Takeaways
Canadiens: Despite the loss, Montreal has points in 11 of its last 12 games, going 8-1-3 in that span.
Islanders: Duclair's goal at 5:37 of the first period gave the Islanders a 1-0 lead and snapped New York's 0-for-18 power-play drought.
Key moment
With the game tied at 3 in OT, Horvat capped a 2-on-1 break by driving up the left wing and beating Montembeault high on the short side. That came after Montreal’s Lane Hutson was checked off the puck on a rush the other way.Â
Key stat
The Islanders went 1 for 2 on goal challenges. Coach Patrick Roy was successful in challenging Nick Suzuki’s goal that would have put Montreal up 2-1 early in the second period when a replay review showed he was just inches offside entering the Isles zone.
Laine’s power-play goal, cutting the Islanders' lead to 3-2 at the 4:32 mark of the third period, was allowed to stand after being challenged for goalie interference.
Up next
Canadiens: Host the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday night.Â
