Ilya Sorokin made 38 saves and had his first two assists of the season, the first Islanders goalie with multiple points in a game. Anthony Duclair and Simon Holmstrom also had goals for the Islanders, who moved within two points of the Canadiens for the second wild-card playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Entering Thursday’s showdown, the Montreal Canadiens held a slight advantage over the New York Islanders, with three more points in the playoff race. However, after a tough 4-3 defeat in overtime, that lead has now shortened to only one small point.

The Islanders won their third game in a row and it was a big one, though their coughing up a two-goal third-period lead meant it wasn’t as rewarding as it could’ve been. By going to overtime, they allowed the wild card-holding Montreal Canadiens a standings point despite prevailing 4-3 on Bo Horvat’s OT winner.