3 Takeaways From Devils’ Comeback 5-4 OT Win Over Islanders

On Saturday, Nov. 7, the New Jersey Devils took on the New York Islanders at UBS Arena. This was the two teams’ second matchup of the 2026-27 season, the first of which the Islanders shut out the Devils 6-0. The Devils were hoping for a major comeback in this game, and they definitely got it.

Although the Islanders scored first late in the first period, the Devils tied the game shortly after. Another quick succession goal gave New York a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes. New Jersey tied the game early in the second, but another two goals gave the Islanders the lead heading into the third period. The final frame was all Devils, in which they tied the game with two late goals, forcing this game to go into overtime.

Just 1:18 into three-on-three, the Devils called the game, earning a 5-4 win.

Rodrigues Breaks Devils’ Scoring Drought at UBS Arena

Heading into this game, the Devils hadn’t scored at UBS Arena since Dec. 23, 2025. With 11 months since their last goal on Long Island, and a tough 6-0 loss to the Islanders earlier in the season, something had to give. Despite Anthony Duclair scoring the first goal of the game, the Devils got on the board shortly after.

The Islanders won the initial faceoff after Duclair’s goal and skated the puck into their zone. Jesper Boqvist laid a heavy hit on Matthew Kessel, forcing him to drop the puck. Anthony Mantha picked up the loose biscuit and passed it to an open Evan Rodrigues. He skated up to the net and sent it past Ilya Sorokin to score the Devils’ first of the game.

The Devils went two full games at UBS Arena without a single goal. It was the newcomer, Rodrigues, who broke this awful streak New Jersey was on. He came over in the trade from the Florida Panthers, in which they received Jacob Markstrom. Rodrigues helped the Panthers win two Stanley Cups in 2024 and 2025.

So far this season, Rodrigues has seven points in 17 games and has been a great depth player to the Devils’ bottom six. His winning mentality has come out throughout his time in New Jersey, which is a great thing to carry this Devils team through the season, as they try to hit their primary goal of making the playoffs.

Devils Kept the Pressure On

The Devils had a tough time in this game. For the majority, the Islanders held the lead. However, the Devils didn’t give up. They kept sustaining the pressure, continuing to pepper Sorokin with shots. By the end of the game, the Devils had 50 shots compared to the Islanders’ 23.

At first, this performance was concerning since the Devils had a large number of shots with just a couple of goals to their name. In the end, it worked out for them because they kept the pressure on the Islanders throughout. There was no time when the Devils let their foot off the gas; they played a sustained 60 minutes of hockey.

New Jersey only capitalized on one of their four power-play chances, but it was this goal by Dougie Hamilton that tied the game. The Devils’ full-team and full-game effort is what helped secure their win over the Islanders.

Hughes Called Game

After a crazy third period, the Devils forced the game to go into overtime. A minute into the three-on-three, Matthew Schaefer skated the puck up toward the net in the Islanders’ zone. He was taken down by Luke Hughes, who picked up the puck Schaefer lost. He sent it into the neutral zone, where Jack Hughes picked it up and skated it into the Devils’ offensive zone. With no one defending him, he skated up to the net alone, where he scored the game-winning goal.

Let’s be realistic: the Devils dodged a bullet here. They were outscored initially by the Islanders and managed to come back. L. Hughes took down Schaefer and, somehow, the referees saw nothing wrong with this play. It ended up helping the Devils take the win in this game.

Devils Head North

The Devils have a second half of a back-to-back on Sunday, Nov. 8, when they take on the Toronto Maple Leafs. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 PM ET.