DALLAS — The Islanders were not going to break their recent slump without producing late in the game.
So, crucially, that’s just what they did.
Thanks to Bo Horvat’s overtime winner, the Islanders walked out of American Airlines Center as 3-2 victors over the Stars, earning a badly needed road win that can give their confidence a much-needed boost.
It appeared as though the Islanders were following a similar and ill-fated script when they frittered away leads of 1-0 and 2-1 in the second period.
But finally in overtime, they retook the lead with no opportunity to lose it.
The power play, which struggled all night, again came up short in the final frame after the Isles were gifted a five-on-four opportunity when Sam Steel held Sebastian Aho at the 13:27 mark.
But they could get nothing going on the man-advantage and, in fact, gave up a couple of Grade-A looks to the shorthanded Stars.
The top line did produce a Grade-A look shortly thereafter, with Horvat feeding Mathew Barzal in front, but Scott Wedgewood came up with a diving stop to keep the Isles from retaking the lead.
Even so, the Isles managed to survive a third period in which they had far from their best.
And in the extra period, they found what was missing with a Horvat one-timer from the right circle.
After Ryan Pulock’s goal at 15:59 of the first, the Islanders had a great chance to extend their lead when Dallas took consecutive penalties at the start of the second.
But not only did the Isles fail to convert in four minutes of power-play time. which included 30 seconds at five-on-three, they followed it by taking a penalty and giving up a power-play goal themselves, as Matt Duchene converted Thomas Harley’s rebound.
The Isles again failed to hold onto the lead after Kyle MacLean followed Pierre Engvall’s shot to make it 2-1, with Logan Stankoven beating Ilya Sorokin — who made 30 saves on the night — short side at the 18:17 mark to send the game to the third tied.
This was a movie we’ve seen before.
But the Isles put a different ending on it, and one that was desperately needed for their playoff chances.
One victory does little to change the situation facing the Islanders, which requires a major and sustained turnaround to climb back over the playoff cutline.
Not only are they still five points behind the Flyers, who occupy third in the Metropolitan Division, but they are also a point behind the Capitals and tied with New Jersey.
The margin of error is completely and totally gone, but there is not much the Islanders can do about that now.
The only available option is to put together a winning streak.
That had to start somewhere, and it had to start soon.
So why not Monday in Dallas?