Islanders Hold On For 5-4 Win Over Chicago Blackhawks

ELMONT, N.Y. - The New York Islanders were in desperate need for two points against the Chicago Blackhawks Thursday at UBS Arena. The Isles earned the two points defeating the Hawks 5-4, but it didn't come easy after allowing a third period 5-1 lead nearly evaporate.

The game started out evenly paced despite a Chicago surge to open. However, the Blackhawks found the game's first goal on the power play.

Following an Alex Vlasic keep-in, Kyle Palmieri overskated a clearing attempt to allow Ryan Donato to retain possession. Donato got the puck to Connor Bedard, who cut from the slot to the left wing and let a shot go that beat Ilya Sorokin, giving Chicago a 1-0 lead at 16:47

Chicago outshot New York 11-5 in the first, with the Islanders giving the puck away eight times to the Blackhawks' five.

The Islanders started the second on the power play after a Craig Smith roughing infraction, but were unable to convert. However, their second power play opportunity got them even.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau sent a cross ice pass to Simon Holmstrom on the left side boards, with winger tapping the puck back to Dennis Cholowski. The defenseman let a one-time shot go from center point that beat Arvid Soderblom to tie the game at 6:59 of the second.

About seven minutes later, New York took the lead for the first time. Pageau got the puck to the right boards for Ryan Pulock to pin along the wall before giving it off to Holmstrom. The winger skated to the point and into the high slot before letting a shot go that beat Soderblom through traffic.

Holmstrom's eighth of the year from Pulock and Pageau gave New York a 2-1 lead at 14:06 of the middle period.

New York retained the lead through 40 minutes of play after outshooting Chicago 8-5.

The Islanders killed off a Chicago power play to start the third period, then started the ambush.

Over five minutes into the third, Anders Lee got the puck to Brock Nelson to skate to center and handed it off to Noah Dobson. The defenseman took it for a skate into Blackhawks ice and scored on a five-hole shot, extending the lead to 3-1.

Lee now has points in three straight games. The Islanders captain has two goals and two assists in that span.

57 seconds later, the Islanders added on. Pageau dropped the puck for Holmstrom at right point. He cut towards the slot and dished a pass to Bo Horvat, who buried the shot to Soderblom's left to make it 4-1 at 6:36.

Holmstrom's two helpers tonight matched his career-high from last season; he had 10 in 75 games last season. Pageau's three-assist night was the second of his NHL career, he last did it on March 12, 2016 against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

80 seconds afterward, the Islanders capped off a three-goal rally. After Kyle Palmieri's initial shot was denied, Maxim Tsyplakov picked up a loose puck from Donato and finished the second chance, making it 5-1 at 7:56.

The goal chased Soderblom from the game, he finished with five goals against on 19 shots. Drew Commesso made his NHL debut in relief.

Chicago cut into the deficit after five straight Islander goals over halfway through the period. Jason Dickinson got the puck to Bedard below the goal line, who sent it back to T.J. Brodie at right point. The defenseman let the shot fly and beat Sorokin through traffic, trimming New York's lead to 5-2 at 11:04.

Bedard's goal and assist extended his point streak to three games, tallying a goal and three assists in that span.

Then with 1:10 left the Blackhawks made it 5-3, as Tyler Bertuzzi put a Taylor Hall past Sorokin.

After the ensuing face-off, the Hawks pulled their goalie, and incredibly a wrister from Vlasic the point was deflected past Sorokin by Bertuzzi with 9.7 seconds to play -- and now the Isles maintained only a one-goal lead.

The Islanders avoided any further late collapse, and took the two points, winning 5-4.

The two clubs will once again faceoff against each other on Sunday afternoon in Chicago.