The Edmonton Oilers played the third of a four-game eastern road trip on March 14 against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on Long Island, New York.
The Oilers came into the game in third place in the NHL’s Pacific Division with 78 points. They were 3-7-0 in their last 10 games, sitting one point behind the Los Angeles Kings and seven points behind the division-leading Vegas Golden Knights.
The Islanders, meanwhile, sat in sixth place in the NHL’s Metropolitan Division with 65 points. They were 4-6-0 in their last 10 games, sitting in seventh place in the Eastern Conference wild-card race. They were five points out.
Here’s your game recap:
Game Recap
The Oilers and Islanders were tied 0-0 after the first period, with Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin putting on a clinic in the opening 20 minutes. The Oilers outshot the Islanders 17-6, with many high-danger chances, but couldn’t put the puck past Sorokin. The Islanders got the only power-play opportunity of the first period at the 14:39 mark on a Connor McDavid cross-check. But the Oilers’ Connor Brown had the best scoring opportunity of the period on the Isles’ power play, with a short-handed breakaway that Sorokin made a good glove save on. Oilers forward Zach Hyman was absent halfway through the first period, as he went to the Oilers’ dressing room with an undisclosed injury. He returned for the start of the second period.
Related: Projected Lineups for the Oilers vs Islanders – 03/14/25
Leon Draisaitl opened the scoring at 11:14 of the second frame with a blistering slap shot off the left-hand side. It was Draisaitl’s 48th goal of the season and the Oilers’ first shot of the period. Assists went to Evan Bouchard, his 40th assist of the season, and Brown. The Islanders came alive in the second period, closing the gap in shots on goal, but were unable to beat the Oilers’ starting goalie, Calvin Pickard. The second period finished with the Oilers outshooting the Islanders 25-17.
Bo Horvat opened the scoring for the Islanders at the 1:21 mark of the third period on a 2-on-1 break. It was Horvat’s 21st goal of the season, scored unassisted. Pickard may not have been too busy in the third period, but he was solid when called upon and got the Oilers to overtime. Shots on goal after three periods favoured the Oilers 32-22.
In the extra frame, the Oilers’ trio of McDavid, Draisaitl, and Bouchard dominated the first two minutes but were unable to beat Sorokin. Pickard may have made the play of the game when he stopped the puck late in overtime and passed it up to McDavid, who fed Draisaitl for the game-winner at the 3:53 mark. It was Draisaitl’s 10th game-winner and 49th goal of the season. In the end, the shots on goal favoured the Oilers 34-25.
The Oilers’ next game is on Sunday, March 16, when they finish their four-game eastern road trip against the New York Rangers at 5 p.m. MDT at the world’s most famous arena, Madison Square Garden. The Islanders’ next game is also on Sunday, when they face the Florida Panthers at 7:30 p.m. EST.
