Brock Nelson and the New York Islanders eagerly waited for the puck to drop against the Pittsburgh Penguins with a possibility of a franchise record being set. The Islanders hoped to continue their 15-game point streak to make it the longest in team history. Barry Trotz decided to put the newly promoted third-line on the ice to start. Matt Martin made his return on the ice alongside Casey Cizikas and Cal Clutterbuck.

Cizikas lost the opening face-off to Teddy Blueger. Within a minute and four seconds into the first period, Evgeni Malkin scored to give the Penguins a 1-0 lead. Later in the period, the referees called three penalties with two of them being a power-play for the Islanders. With four minutes remaining in the period, Scott Mayfield tallied his third goal of the season to tie the game at one.

During the second period, Bryan Rust beat Thomas Greiss to give the Penguins a two goal lead. All throughout the game the Islanders made sure the scoring did not get too out of hand to make a comeback impossible.
Shortly after the goal, the Islanders were given the opportunity to tie the game with two penalties that were called on Pittsburgh. When Pittsburgh got back to even strength, Anthony Beauvillier scored his eighth goal of the season to end the second period tied 2-2.

In the middle of the third period, the Islanders finally gained their first lead of the game from a goal scored by Brock Nelson . Nelson scored his seventh goal of the season. Late in the third period, the Penguins scored to tie the game which pushed the game to go into overtime. The franchise record was secured. But the Islanders wanted a victory. Brock Nelson collected the second point in overtime to give the Islanders a win and himself two goals during his 500th NHL game.

The New York Islanders are 15-0-1 in their last 16 games. This is their longest point streak since the 1981-82 season.

John Smark