Islanders tie game late, send Canadiens to OT loss

Field Level Media|published: Thu 26th February, 22:27 2026

Feb 26, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer (48) celebrates with right wing Simon Holmstrom (10) his second goal of the game against the Montreal Canadiens during the second period at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored the game-winner at 1:46 of overtime as the visiting New York Islanders rallied for a 4-3 victory against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday.

Pageau carried the puck up the left side for a partial breakaway and cut to the front of the net before slipping a backhand under Samuel Montembeault's pads.

Matthew Schaefer scored twice for the Islanders, who have won three in a row. Ilya Sorokin made 21 saves.

Noah Dobson scored twice against his former team and Samuel Montembeault made 22 saves for the Canadiens, who have lost two of three (1-0-2) but extended their point streak to six (4-0-2).

Cole Caufield put Montreal ahead 3-2 at 9:11 of the third period. Juraj Slafkovsky's shot from the right circle deflected off Ivan Demidov's skate on the doorstep and trickled through Sorokin's pads to the other side, where Caufield easily tapped it in.

With Sorokin pulled for the extra attacker, Anders Lee tied it 3-3. Bo Horvat fired a shot from the top of the slot that deflected off Lee in front and went over Montembeault's left arm at 18:19.

Dobson gave the Canadiens a 1-0 lead at 12:11 of the first period. The defenseman, who was traded to Montreal in the offseason for forward Emil Heineman, carried the puck to the left circle before snapping it glove side past Sorokin.

Dobson made it 2-0 on the power play at 10:06 of the second period. He took a feed from Alexandre Texier at the middle of the blue line and beat a screened Sorokin with a slap shot blocker side.

Schaefer scored twice in less than a minute late in the second to pull the Islanders even.

The rookie defenseman cut it to 2-1 on a 5-on-3 with a snap shot from the top of the slot at 17:56. Schaefer then tied it 2-2 at 18:51, beating a screened Montembeault inside the near post from the top of the right circle.

Schaefer's second tally was his 18th of the season, moving the 2025 No. 1 overall pick past Hall of Famer Phil Housley for most by an 18-year-old defenseman in NHL history.

--Field Level Media

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