In a thrilling showdown, the New York Islanders demonstrated their resilience, overcoming a 2-0 deficit to edge the Vegas Golden Knights in a 5-4 shootout victory. The game, played at UBS Arena on December 10, 2025, saw Bo Horvat steal the show with a brace of goals for the Islanders.
But here's where it gets controversial...
With just 14 seconds left on the clock in regulation time, Pavel Dorofeyev tied the game for Vegas, sending the match into overtime. The Golden Knights even had a power play opportunity in the dying seconds, but the Islanders' penalty kill unit held firm.
New York coach Patrick Roy praised his team's resilience, saying, "We didn't change anything, and that's what I love about our group. We were moving, creating chances, and controlling the puck well. Resiliency was key tonight."
The Islanders' Marc Gatcomb and Simon Holmstrom also found the back of the net, contributing to their team's four wins in the last five games. Goalie Ilya Sorokin made 32 saves, a crucial factor in the victory.
For the Golden Knights, Mitch Marner and Mark Stone each had a goal and an assist, while Jack Eichel provided two assists. Their four-game winning streak came to an end, but defenseman Noah Hanifin highlighted the positives, saying, "We battled back, and that late 6-on-5 goal was huge. It's a shame we couldn't get it done in overtime, but there are definitely some positives to take from this."
Hanifin had given the Golden Knights an early lead in the first period, but the Islanders fought back, with Horvat's goal in the first period and Gatcomb's equalizer in the second keeping them in the game. Holmstrom's goal put the Islanders ahead, but Ivan Barbashev tied the game again in the third period.
Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy praised the Islanders' goalie, Ilya Sorokin, saying, "He played very well, and we still managed to get four goals past him. We've been working on getting those rebound goals, and we'll keep improving."
Horvat's second goal, a power-play strike, put New York back in front, and they held on to secure the win.
And this is the part most people miss...
Horvat's comments post-game were insightful: "We have the opportunity to beat any team. We've got the right group here, and everyone's buying into our game plan. That's a huge part of our success."
So, who do you think was the MVP of this game? Was it Horvat's brace, Sorokin's saves, or the team's overall resilience? Let us know in the comments, and feel free to share your thoughts on this thrilling NHL match!
