Mathew Barzal’s Game-Winning Goal Lifts Islanders to Exciting 5-4 Victory against Hurricanes

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Mathew Barzal secured a thrilling victory for the New York Islanders with an overtime goal at 2:46, propelling them to a 5-4 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night. This came after the Hurricanes’ Sebastian Aho tied the game with just 2.5 seconds left in regulation.

In addition to his game-winning goal, Barzal also contributed three assists, while Semyon Varlamov made 39 saves to help the Islanders secure their fourth win in six games.

Aho’s late goal came with goalie Pyotr Kochetkov pulled for an extra skater, stunning the Islanders and Varlamov. Kyle Palmieri, Pierre Engvall, Bo Horvat, and Simon Holmstrom also found the back of the net for their respective teams.

Carolina’s Jalen Chatfield, Jordan Staal, and Jack Drury added goals of their own, with Kochetkov making 11 saves in the losing effort.

Palmieri broke a 3-3 tie at 6:41 in the third period with a backhander on a power play, taking advantage of a delay-of-game penalty on Staal that gave the Islanders the opportunity to score.

Despite a slow start in the second period, the Islanders managed to take a 3-2 lead into the third period with just 10 shots on goal in the first 40 minutes of play.

Engvall’s decisive goal in the second period was a result of a brilliant move past Jesperi Kotkaniemi, securing the lead for New York with just 1:57 left in the period.

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Islanders: At Florida on Saturday.

Hurricanes: Host Buffalo on Saturday night.