New Jersey Devils’ Curtis Lazar (42), left, scores the winning goal past New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (30), center, during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Newark, N.J., Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023. The Devils defeated the Islanders 5-4. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Curtis Lazar scored the winning goal with 23 seconds left and Akira Schmid made eight saves in relief as the New Jersey Devils rallied past the New York Islanders 5-4 on Tuesday night.
Lazar slid a loose puck past Ilya Sorokin for his fourth of the season to complete a three-goal comeback by the Devils in the third period.
“What a fun game to go back and forth. We found a way to win. It was a grind,” Lazar said. “To get those two points in regulation, it’s big for the hockey club.”
New York led 4-2 entering the third before Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier scored to tie it. Hughes got his seventh goal at 5:08, then Hischier netted his fourth on a power play at 11:10. Hughes also had two assists.
Michael McLeod and Dawson Mercer also scored for the Devils, who were coming off a 7-2 win over Buffalo last Saturday.
“We took advantage of our opportunities,” Devils coach Lindy Ruff said. ”I give our guys a lot of credit battling back.”
Mathew Barzal and Cal Clutterbuck scored 1:16 apart midway through the second to put the Islanders (8-7-6) ahead 3-2 before Jean-Gabriel Pageau gave them a two-goal cushion at 13:05.
Bo Horvat also scored for the Islanders, who lost in regulation for the first time in seven games. Sorokin made 28 saves.
“I thought we played a really good 40 minutes, honestly. In the third, they get that one to make it 4-3 and we took an unfortunate penalty and they capitalized on it,” Horvat said. “Then, an unfortunate bounce at the end. Obviously, we wanted to get that one to overtime and get a point.”
Barzal and Noah Dobson had two assists apiece for New York. Barzal leads the team with 19 points.
With the Islanders trailing…
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