Before the Islanders winning streak, they hosted the defending Stanley Cup Champion St. Louis Blues in a crucial game. At that point in the season, the Islanders were 2-3. Although the win streak technically started on Saturday night with a defeat over the Florida Panthers. It was with the win on Monday afternoon where fans felt a change in the air. A win where fans thought that this could be the start of something special.
So now, after improving to 2-3, the Islanders hosted the aforementioned Blues. Right from the start, the Islanders looked sluggish and not mentally prepared. It was a close game all the way through.
However, after a power-play goal in the third period, the St. Louis Blues jumped out to a 2-0 lead. It appeared as if the game was over.
A game where the Islanders did not have their legs. A game where the Islanders looked lethargic. A game that was just destiny to lose. With a loss, the Islanders would move to 2-4. Obviously, it is still very early in the season, but losing can become a vicious cycle. No team wants to be playing to get to .500 in November.
With about five minutes remaining in the third period, the Islanders got on the board, a much-needed goal to stay in the game. Michael Dal Colle entered the zone with the puck-ended up losing it, but somehow got the puck back thanks to a giveaway from Jaden Schwartz.
Dal Colle passed the puck over to Brock Nelson, who was at the top of the right face-off circle for a one-timer. Somehow, the puck managed to squeeze by Jordan Binnington on the short side. Then, as time was running out in the game, the Islanders made one last effort to tie it.
The Islanders pulled their goalie to try and even up the score. Mat Barzal threw the puck on net, and it ended up deflecting off of Alex Steen and finding its way past Binnington. The goal was a much-needed gift for the Islanders.
The Coliseum, all of a sudden, was rocking like good old times. You could feel the change in momentum. Before the game even went into overtime, you could feel that this was an Islanders game.
The Islanders started the overtime firing on all cylinders. They dominated the Blues.
Just over two minutes into the overtime, Barzal found defenseman Devon Toews wide open in the slot for a one-timer. Toews made no mistake and put the upstairs on Binnington.
The Islanders played only five minutes out of the 60 and managed to come away with two points. It was a massive win for their club and a much-needed win to get the Islanders believing in themselves again.
As you watched the Islanders celebrating, you knew that this win would lead to something special — the Islanders winning streak has caused a massive momentum swing early in the season. Although this win did not officially start the winning streak, it was the win that led to a brand new Islanders team taking the ice. It was the catalyst and turning point in the Islanders season early on.

Ethan Halle

Ethan is an Economics Major at the University of Florida looking to pursue a double major in Sports Management with a minor in political science.