Winnipeg, MB – Evander Kane pushed a rebound across the goal line 1:59 into overtime, lifting the Winnipeg Jets to a 5-4 victory over the New York Islanders at MTS Centre.
The Islanders scored three times in the first 9:53 of the third period to go up 4-2, but Winnipeg responded with goals from Dustin Byfuglien and Alexander Burmistrov 65 seconds apart to force overtime.
In the extra session, Islanders forward Keith Aucoin turned the puck over in the offensive zone, resulting in an odd-man rush for the Jets.
Olli Jokinen carried the puck down the left wing and fired a slap shot from the faceoff circle that struck the far post after getting past New York goalie Evgeni Nabokov. Kane followed up the play and banged home the rebound.
"I knew Olli had it (puck) and there was nobody in my way, and I was actually looking for the breakaway," Kane said. "But Olli kept it and I knew he was shooting it when I saw the big wind-up and he has a really hard shot, so I almost flew by (the net), because I thought he was going to bury it. But thank goodness I didn't."
Al Montoya, a former Islander, stopped 21 shots in his Winnipeg debut.
Nabokov finished with 30 saves.
John Tavares tied the game 22 seconds into the third, beating Montoya high on the glove side. Matt Moulson then put New York in front by potting his 100th goal as an Islander on a deflection at 5:09, and Mark Streit scored a power- play at just before the midway point.
The Jets soared back with a pair of quick strikes.
Byfuglien ripped a shot from the blue line on a power play at 12:59, and Burmistrov scored on a wrister from the right circle at 14:04.
David Ullstrom gave the Islanders a 1-0 lead 2:34 into the game, but Alexei Ponikarovsky answered for the Jets at the 10:15 mark of the first period.
The Jets led 2-1 on a goal by Bryan Little at 5:13 of the middle stanza.
"I didn't think we played hockey in the first period. Again, you can say they played well, and I do give them credit, but we were down three or four power plays right off the bat," Islanders coach Jack Capuano said. "That changed the whole momentum."
Game Notes
The Islanders had killed off 16 straight power plays to begin the season before Byfuglien scored in the third ... Tavares had two assists ... New York defenseman Thomas Hickey made his NHL debut.
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