Bo Horvat comes to rescue, Islanders sweep series with Devils

Horvat scores go-ahead goal late in third period to lead New York to 3-1 win over New Jersey

Feb. 6, 2026 at 2:15am

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Bo Horvat scored the go-ahead goal with 3:27 left to play to lead the New York Islanders to a 3-1 win over the New Jersey Devils on Thursday in Newark, N.J. Casey Cizikas and Mathew Barzal also scored for the Islanders, who swept the four-game season series against the Devils. Ilya Sorokin made 23 saves in the win.

Why it matters

The Islanders' victory over the Devils extends their winning streak against their division rival and keeps them in the hunt for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The loss drops the Devils further out of contention as they head into the Olympic break on a three-game skid.

The details

Horvat's team-high 24th goal of the season came off a faceoff win in the Devils' zone. After the puck stayed loose for a few seconds, the Islanders' captain slid a backhand shot past Jake Allen to give the Islanders a 2-1 lead. Barzal added an empty-net goal with 24 seconds remaining to seal the win. Cizikas opened the scoring in the second period by tipping in a rebound, while Nico Hischier scored the Devils' lone goal late in the second.

  • The game was played on Thursday, February 6, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey.
  • Horvat's go-ahead goal came with 3:27 left to play in the third period.
  • Barzal's empty-net goal was scored with 24 seconds remaining in the game.

The players

Bo Horvat

The captain of the New York Islanders who scored the game-winning goal late in the third period.

Ilya Sorokin

The goaltender for the New York Islanders who made 23 saves in the victory.

Nico Hischier

The Devils' center who scored their lone goal in the second period.

Jake Allen

The Devils' goaltender who made 11 saves in the loss.

Mathew Barzal

The Islanders' forward who scored an empty-net goal to seal the win.

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What they’re saying

“We must have been a little sluggish coming out of the break, but Bo really stepped up when we needed him most. That was a huge goal to give us the lead late.”

— Lane Lambert, Islanders Head Coach

What’s next

The Islanders will look to build on this victory as they head into the Olympic break. They will return to action on February 26th against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Devils will try to snap their three-game losing streak when they face the Pittsburgh Penguins on February 24th.

The takeaway

This win keeps the Islanders in the playoff hunt in the Eastern Conference, while the Devils' struggles continue as they head into the Olympic break. Horvat's late heroics proved to be the difference-maker, showcasing his value as the Islanders' captain and leading scorer.