Pageau's OT winner caps Islanders' rally past Canadiens 4-3 and Schaefer sets another rookie mark

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New York Islanders' Jean-Gabriel Pageau (44) celebrates after his winning goal with teammates Simon Holmstrom (10), Casey Cizikas, second from left, and Matthew Schaefer (48) during overtime NHL hockey game action in Montreal, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

New York Islanders' Jean-Gabriel Pageau (44) celebrates after his winning goal with teammates Simon Holmstrom (10), Casey Cizikas (53) and Matthew Schaefer (48) during overtime NHL hockey game action against the Montreal Canadiens in Montreal, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP) — New York Islanders' Jean-Gabriel Pageau (44) celebrates after his winning goal with teammates Simon Holmstrom (10), Casey Cizikas, second from left, and Matthew Schaefer (48) during overtime NHL hockey game action in Montreal, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

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10:40 PM on Thursday, February 26

The Associated Press

MONTREAL (AP) — Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored 3:14 into overtime, rookie Matthew Schaefer had two goals in a 55-second span in the second period and the New York Islanders rallied to beat the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 on Thursday night.

Schaefer has 18 goals to surpass Denis Potvin for the most by a rookie defenseman in team history. Schaefer, selected first overall in last year’s draft, also moved past Phil Housley for the most goals in NHL history by an 18-year-old defenseman.

Islanders captain Anders Lee, skating in his 900th game, also scored and Ilya Sorokin made 21 saves to help New York win its third straight. Sorokin improved to 7-0-2 in his career against Montreal.

The Canadiens' Noah Dobson scored two goals in his first game against his former team. Cole Caufield scored his team-leading 33rd goal for Montreal in the third period and Samuel Montembeault made 23 saves.

Dobson, who scored at even strength and on the power play, spent his first six NHL seasons with the Islanders before being traded last June to Montreal for Emil Heineman and two 2025 first-round draft picks.

It was the first game back for both teams following the NHL’s 19-day pause for the Milan Cortina Olympic Games.

Dobson took advantage of a poor line change by the Islanders to open the scoring for Montreal in the first period. The Canadiens defenseman took a stretch pass from Lane Hutson before firing a wrist shot from the left circle that beat Sorokin to the glove side.

Dobson has 12 goals, one shy of his single-season high set with the Islanders in both the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons.

Up next

Islanders: At the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday.

Canadiens: Host the Washington Capitals on Saturday.

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