New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer (48) skates with the puck as Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes (43) defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Bailey Hillesheim)
By PATRICK DONNELLY
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Simon Holmstrom scored his second goal of the game 1:34 into overtime and the New York Islanders beat the Minnesota Wild 4-3 on Saturday night.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Casey Cizikas also scored for the Islanders, who improved to 3-0-1 in their last four games. Ilya Sorokin made 32 saves, including 17 in a scoreless third period.
Matt Boldy, Kirill Kaprizov and Ben Jones scored for Minnesota in its third loss in four games (1-1-2). Quinn Hughes assisted on all three Wild goals and Filip . Gustavsson stopped 23 shots.
In the extra period, Holmstrom circled into the slot and fired a backhander that beat Gustavsson to give the Islanders the win.
Minnesota took a one-goal lead three times in the first two periods, including Jones’ first NHL goal to open the scoring early in the first. But the Islanders answered each time to even the score.
Cizikas scored a short-handed goal to tie it 3-3 late in the second period, completing a 2-on-1 rush with Holmstrom by slipping the puck between Gustavsson’s pads.
The Wild were playing their first home game since December 23. They went 4-1-2 on a seven-game road swing that coincided with the Twin Cities hosting the World Juniors Championships.
Up next
Islanders: At Winnipeg on Tuesday.
Wild: Host New Jersey on Monday.
*Associated Press
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