Islanders Overcome Penguins in Overtime Thriller

Mathew Barzal's heroics lead Islanders to comeback victory

Feb. 4, 2026 at 10:31am

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The New York Islanders came from behind to defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-4 in overtime, with Mathew Barzal scoring the game-winning goal. Barzal had a goal and two assists in the victory, which he called a "huge morale-booster" for the team after a two-game losing skid.

Why it matters

The Islanders' comeback win over their division rival Penguins was an important result that keeps them within striking distance of second place in the Metropolitan Division. The resilience and determination shown by the team in battling back from multiple deficits is a positive sign as they head into the Olympic break.

The details

The Islanders fell behind multiple times in the game, but Barzal's third-period goal to tie it at 3-3 and his overtime assist on Bo Horvat's game-winner helped the team complete the comeback. Coach Patrick Roy praised his team's ability to "find a way to win" despite the ups and downs throughout the contest.

  • The Islanders trailed the Penguins for much of the game, including a 4-3 deficit in the third period.
  • Mathew Barzal scored the game-tying goal with just over 5 minutes left in regulation to make it 4-4.
  • In overtime, Barzal set up Bo Horvat for the game-winning goal to give the Islanders the 5-4 victory.

The players

Mathew Barzal

The Islanders' star center, who had a goal and two assists in the comeback win over the Penguins.

Bo Horvat

The Islanders' forward who scored the overtime game-winner, assisted by Barzal.

Patrick Roy

The Islanders' head coach, who praised his team's resilience and ability to "find a way to win" in the back-and-forth game.

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What they’re saying

“What a ride that was. I thought we came out, had a great start, and then we were just always down a goal, and then we get it tied up late, and they get one in front of the net there, and we kind of have a bad power play. And tonight was big, just for the morale in this room, just to know that it doesn't really matter how the game goes — up [and] down the entire night. I think we knew the whole way we were getting it done. We felt super confident every period.”

— Mathew Barzal (NHL.com)

“Tonight was a game that we had to be resilient in, a game where we had to battle to come back, and that's what we did. Bo and 'Barzy' had a strong night, and they scored big goals for us. … This is what we call a season. I mean, there's different ways to win games, and tonight was a good example. We found a way to win, and we had to be bold at a lot of moments in that game. And I thought we were.”

— Patrick Roy, Islanders Head Coach (NHL.com)

What’s next

The Islanders will play their final game before the Olympic break on Thursday, visiting the struggling New Jersey Devils.

The takeaway

The Islanders' comeback victory over their division rival Penguins was an important morale-boosting win that showcased the team's resilience and determination. As they head into the Olympic break, the Islanders have proven they can battle back from adversity and find ways to win, which will serve them well in the second half of the season as they push for a playoff spot.