NEW YORK – Bo Horvat tied the game shorthanded in the second period, scored the go-ahead goal on the power play and completed the empty-net hat trick with 8.1 seconds left to help the team New York Islanders get their first win of the season by rallying and winning Edmonton Oilers 4-2 on Thursday night.
Seven seconds after Trent Frederick hit Matthew Schaefer with a high stick, Horvat beat Stuart Skinner with 4:46 left to bring the fans, some of whom had previously booed the home team, to their feet. Mat Barzal scored the Islanders' first goal and had the lead assist on Horvat's game-winning goal, and David Rittich stopped 30 of the 32 shots he faced at the other end of the ice in his Islanders debut.
Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard gave up the puck on an unexplained pass in the neutral zone to open the net for Barzal, and was the last player back on the power play that allowed Horvat to get past him and break away from Skinner. Bouchard, who is the fourth-highest paid player at his position in the NHL and tied for 14th among all players with a salary cap hit of $10.5 million, also coughed up the puck, creating several quality scoring chances.
Leon Draisaitl scored on the power play, his third goal of the season, off a feed from Connor McDavid, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored Edmonton's second goal. Skinner could hardly be blamed for allowing three goals on 24 shots, as he was hung out to dry on several occasions by his teammates due to errors in fast-paced play, including a late penalty from Frederick.
The Islanders will take two points, but they could get them after starting the game with losses in Pittsburgh and at home to Washington and Winnipeg. Schaefer, who first played No. 1 overall pick McDavid a decade apart, clocked 17:38 in his fourth league game.
Oilers: Visit the New Jersey Devils on Saturday.
Islanders: Visit the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.
