ST. PAUL, Minn. — This was the kind of win to make believers of the Islanders. 

More because of how the schedule broke than any other cause, the street journey that ended here Thursday evening was the first time all season they had the likelihood to check themselves as a visiting workforce against bona fide Stanley Cup contenders. 

While Sunday’s sport in Dallas didn’t go according to plan, they matched the Wild blow-for-blow. The 4-3 additional time victory that came from it is simply the greatest the Islanders have had during the season’s first month, even if Matt Boldy’s tying purpose with under 4 minutes to go had them sweating before Matthew Schaefer won it. 

New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer celebrates his purpose against the Minnesota Wild on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026, in Saint Paul, Minn. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

They were never overwhelmed by Minnesota’s velocity. They protected the center of the ice in their own zone and performed good, bodily hockey for 60 minutes. It didn’t fairly hold the Wild’s cadre of superstars quiet, but definitely it stored them from taking over the sport. Handing Minnesota its first loss of the season on house ice, plus incomes their first win after giving up the first purpose, are two achievements on which the Islanders can cling their hats. 

So, too, is that this sport was performed principally on the Islanders’ phrases. There wasn’t much house to work with for either workforce, and rush possibilities were few and far between. That’s precisely the surroundings Pete DeBoer’s squad has thrived in so far, and it wasn’t too completely different here. 

They entered the third interval tied 2-2 but with a big 8-3 edge on high-danger possibilities at five-on-five — an indication of how effectively the Islanders defended even with Ryan Pulock accomplished for the evening with an upper-body damage after enjoying just two shifts and 51 seconds. 

The likelihood to retake the lead came after the Islanders killed off their third penalty of the evening. After Victor Eklund won a puck battle alongside the boards, it floated to Adam Pelech in house, and the defenseman’s shot hit Michael McCarron in the leg before getting previous Jesper Wallstedt, the change in course seemingly catching the netminder out. 

There was still loads of sport left from there, with the purpose coming 7:14 into the third, and an Islanders protection that had been stout all evening began to lastly present some put on late in the sport. Boldy tied it on the rush with 3:53 to go after a couple of poor shifts in a row put the Islanders on their heels. 

It salvaged the Wild a level, but in their fourth attempt this season, the Islanders won a sport in the additional interval. This time, it didn’t even take Schaefer logging a five-minute shift. 

New York Islanders gamers have fun a purpose against the Minnesota Wild in Saint Paul, Minn., Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026. NHLI via Getty Images

He did, however, web the winner — placing in a two-on-one likelihood off the rush. 

The only improvement about which the Islanders might be quietly fearful is that of Ilya Sorokin. In his first begin after letting in six objectives against the Stars — a efficiency that could simply be called both an outlier and a product of poor protection — the goaltender let in three softies. 

First, just 27 seconds into the sport, Joel Eriksson Ek beat him clear from 41 toes out. Then, late in the second interval, Quinn Hughes lifted a sharp-angle backhand previous Sorokin’s pads to tie the sport at two. Even Boldy’s tying purpose was one Sorokin most likely should have had. 

Minnesota Wild defenseman Matt Kiersted (26) skates with the puck as New York Islanders heart Kyle MacLean defends, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. AP Photo/Abbie Parr

In between, the Islanders largely had the higher of their opposition. 

While Minnesota’s prime line of Eriksson Ek centering Boldy and Kirill Kaprizov performed up ice, and Hughes got loads of zone time, the Islanders did a good job defending the center, and of producing when that foursome was off the ice. Their penalty kill also acquitted itself effectively, going 3-for-3. 

Schaefer scored a purpose and put up a secondary help to equal Hughes’ output on the evening, leaping on Emil Heineman’s rebound late in the first to tie the sport at one. 

At 1:41 of the second, Simon Holmstrom threaded a terrific backdoor cross to Bo Horvat for a deflection that gave the Islanders a short-term 2-1 lead. 

Minnesota Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt defends his purpose while Olli Maatta journeys New York Islanders’ Kyle Palmieri on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026, in Saint Paul. NHLI via Getty Images

Ahead of what guarantees to be a robust homestand, with the Oilers, Hurricanes and Devils all coming to UBS Arena, Thursday appeared like proof constructive that when the Islanders have it going, they can cling with the league’s greatest.