Horvat's overtime goal and Sorokin's 38 saves and 2 assists lift Islanders to 4-3 win over Canadiens

NEW YORK (AP) — Bo Horvat scored his second goal of the game 3:37 into overtime to lift the New York Islanders past the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 on Thursday night for their third straight victory.

Ilya Sorokin made 38 saves and had his first two assists of the season, the first Islanders goalie with multiple points in a game. Anthony Duclair and Simon Holmstrom also had goals for the Islanders, who moved within two points of the Canadiens for the second wild-card playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

New York is 7-3-1 in its last 11 since a four-game skid and has won three in a row for the first time since a 7-0 run spanning Jan. 18 to Feb. 1.

Brendan Gallagher tied it for Montreal with 14:16 left after the Canadiens trailed 3-1 early in the third period. Patrik Laine had a goal and an assist and Joshua Roy also scored for the Canadiens. Sam Montembeault made 21 saves.

Canadiens: Despite the loss, Montreal has points in 11 of its last 12 games, going 8-1-3 in that span.

Islanders: Duclair's goal at 5:37 of the first period gave the Islanders a 1-0 lead and snapped New York's 0-for-18 power-play drought.

With the game tied at 3 in OT, Horvat capped a 2-on-1 break by driving up the left wing and beating Montembeault high on the short side. That came after Montreal’s Lane Hutson was checked off the puck on a rush the other way.

The Islanders went 1 for 2 on goal challenges. Coach Patrick Roy was successful in challenging Nick Suzuki’s goal that would have put Montreal up 2-1 early in the second period when a replay review showed he was just inches offside entering the Isles zone.

Laine’s power-play goal, cutting the Islanders' lead to 3-2 at the 4:32 mark of the third period, was allowed to stand after being challenged for goalie interference.

Up next

Canadiens: Host the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday night.

Islanders: Host the Calgray Flames on Saturday.

—

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL

New York Islanders' Kyle Palmieri (21) celebrates a game winning goal by Bo Horvat (14) during the overtime period of an NHL hockey game against the Montreal Canadiens Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault (35) looks for the puck shot by New York Islanders' Bo Horvat for a goal during the overtime period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (30) stops a shot by Montreal Canadiens' Juraj Slafkovský (20) as Mike Reilly (2) defends during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Montreal Canadiens' Patrik Laine (92) celebrates with teammmate Cole Caufield (13) after scoring a goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Islanders Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Islanders' Bo Horvat (14) celebrates with Noah Dobson (8) after scoring a goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game as Montreal Canadiens' Mike Matheson (8) looks away Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Islanders' Bo Horvat (14) skates toward his bench after scoring a goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Montreal Canadiens Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Islanders' Bo Horvat (14) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Montreal Canadiens Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Montreal Canadiens' Brendan Gallagher (11) celebrates after scoring a goal as New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (30) watches during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault (35) leaves the ice as the New York Islanders celebrates after an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Islanders' Bo Horvat celebrates with teammates Tony DeAngelo (4), Casey Cizikas (53) and Noah Dobson (8) after scoring the game-winning goal during the overtime period of an NHL hockey game against the Montreal Canadiens Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. (AP) — President Donald Trump is attending the NCAA wrestling championships for the second time in three years, the latest example of how he has mostly limited travel early in his new term to trips built around sports events.

Trump arrived at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on Saturday night to loud cheers and U.S.A chants as Penn State looks to close out its fourth straight men’s team title. The Republican president spent Friday night at his club in Bedminster, New Jersey, about 70 miles northeast of Philadelphia, on what was his first visit there of his second term.

“We’re going to the big fight. The reason I’m going is in Philadelphia. They have the NCAA, world, wrestling for college. And I’ve always supported the wrestlers,” Trump told reporters as he left the White House on Friday evening. “I want to support them. These are the great college wrestlers from the various schools.”

Trump was traveling with billionaire and top adviser Elon Musk. Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin greeted the president as he arrived at the Philadelphia airport. Pennsylvania Sen. Dave McCormick and U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan were also at the arena sitting in the same section as Musk and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles.

In the two-plus months since returning to the White House, Trump attended the Super Bowl in New Orleans and the Daytona 500 in Florida, where his motorcade drove a portion of the track. While president-elect he went to a UFC fight in New York.

That’s more travel for sports than for policy announcements or official duties, though a long January swing took Trump to tour damage from Hurricane Helene in North Carolina and wildfires in Los Angeles. He then gave a speech and visited the floor of Las Vegas’ Circa Resort & Casino before heading to Doral, Florida, to address a House Republican policy conference.

Trump has long built his public and political persona around sporting events, and relishes turning up at live events to hear cheers from the crowd, even if some in attendance boo him. He also has signed an executive order intended to ban transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports — an action which he points to frequently to fire up his core supporters.

The president has used most Saturdays and Sundays to play golf at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, though he also sometimes remained in Washington to give weekend speeches.

Associated Press writer Adriana Gomez Licon in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, contributed to this report.

President Donald Trump attends the finals at the NCAA wrestling championship, Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

President Donald Trump attends the finals at the NCAA wrestling championship, Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Elon Musk, left, shakes hands with President Donald Trump at the finals for the NCAA wrestling championship, Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

President Donald Trump attends the finals at the NCAA wrestling championship, Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

President Donald Trump, left, and Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., attend the finals at the NCAA wrestling championship, Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

President Donald Trump arrives on Air Force One at Philadelphia International Airport, Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

President Donald Trump attends the finals at the NCAA wrestling championship, Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

President Donald Trump attends the finals at the NCAA wrestling championship, Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Wrestlers compete in the NCAA wrestling championships, Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)