Shea Theodore scored the tying goal in the final minute of regulation and collected the first of Vegas’ two scores in the shootout Sunday afternoon as the Golden Knights edged the New York Islanders 4-3 in Elmont, N.Y.
Jonathan Marchessault scored in the first period and Nicolas Roy also scored in the shootout for the Golden Knights, who completed a perfect four-game Eastern Conference road trip. Robin Lehner, starting against the Islanders on the road for the first time since his lone season with the team in 2018-19 made 29 saves in regulation and overtime before turning back two attempts by the Islanders in the shootout.
Brock Nelson scored in the first period before Kieffer Bellows and Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored the tying and go-ahead goals late in the third period for the Islanders, who have alternated wins with losses in the last six games. Goalie Ilya Sorokin recorded 31 saves.
The Islanders announced just before faceoff that Matt Martin and Robin Salo were placed in COVID-19 protocols. The NHL announced during the third period that New York’s home game Monday against the Montreal Canadiens was among those postponed due to border travel concerns.
Marchessault and Nelson traded goals within a five-minute span in the first period before a scoreless second period was followed by a frantic third period, when the teams combined for four goals — and one overturned tally.
Theodore scored 5:46 into the period to give the Golden Knights a 2-1 lead before Bellows scored the tying goal off a Vegas turnover with 5:41 left. A potential go-ahead goal by Cal Clutterbuck was overturned because the Islanders were offsides with 3:17 remaining, but Pageau broke the tie by beating Lehner from point-blank range 57 seconds later.
Lehner was pulled with about 90 seconds left and Theodore tied the score with a scorching shot from the blue line with 48 seconds remaining.
The Islanders outshot the Golden Knights 7-1 in overtime but could not produce the game-winner.
–Field Level Media
