New York Islanders upset Colorado Avalanche 6-3 ends 17-game point streak 2025 NHL

The New York Islanders delivered a stunning blow to the NHL’s most dominant team on Thursday night, defeating the Colorado Avalanche 6-3 at UBS Arena and snapping their remarkable 17-game point streak. The victory stands as one of the season’s biggest upsets, with the Islanders completely dismantling a Colorado squad that had lost just once in regulation through their first 26 games.

Mathew Barzal led the offensive charge with a goal and two assists, while Ilya Sorokin turned aside 35 shots to stifle the league’s highest-scoring offense. The win carried extra emotional weight as former Islanders captain Brock Nelson returned to Long Island for the first time since being traded to Colorado last season, receiving a warm tribute but watching his new team suffer their most lopsided defeat of the year.

Islanders stun NHL-leading Avalanche with complete team performance

The Islanders attacked Colorado from the opening puck drop, building a staggering 4-0 lead before the Avalanche could mount any serious response. Kyle MacLean opened the scoring at 5:56 of the first period with a controversial goal that survived a goalie interference challenge, setting the tone for what would become a frustrating night for Colorado netminder Mackenzie Blackwood.

Anders Lee doubled the advantage late in the opening frame, burying a cross-ice pass from Barzal with just 1:40 remaining. The Islanders captain continued his climb up the franchise’s all-time goal list, tying Nelson for fifth place with 295 career tallies. The early onslaught represented unfamiliar territory for an Avalanche team that had trailed by multiple goals only three times all season.

Head coach Patrick Roy’s message before the game proved prophetic. He told his players that if any team could surprise the juggernaut Avalanche, it was the Islanders based on their recent strong play. The team responded with perhaps their most complete 60-minute effort of the season, never allowing Colorado to gain momentum despite several comeback attempts.

The victory improved New York’s record to 15-10-3 and extended their winning streak to two games as they prepare for a road trip to Florida. More importantly, it announced the Islanders as a team capable of competing with anyone when executing their game plan.

Brock Nelson’s emotional return overshadowed by Islanders dominance

Thursday night was supposed to be about Brock Nelson’s homecoming. The veteran center, traded from the Islanders to Colorado at last season’s deadline, received a heartfelt video tribute during the first period and a standing ovation from the UBS Arena faithful. Nelson had been a cornerstone of the Islanders franchise for years, and the moment was fitting for a player who gave so much to the organization.

However, the emotional ceremony quickly gave way to business for the Islanders. While Nelson’s presence served as a reminder of the franchise’s past, the current roster made it clear they’re focused on the present and future. The Islanders shut down their former teammate, limiting his effectiveness while building an insurmountable lead.

Nelson’s integration into the Avalanche lineup has been seamless this season, contributing to the league’s most potent offense. But against his former team, he became a symbol of Colorado’s struggles—unable to generate the scoring chances that had become routine during the 17-game point streak. The night belonged to the Islanders, who showed their former captain what they’re capable of at their best.

The moment encapsulated the bittersweet nature of professional sports trades. While Nelson received the respect and appreciation he deserved, his new team suffered their most humbling defeat of the season against his old one.

Controversial first-period goal sparks avalanche of offense

The game’s opening goal immediately placed Colorado on their heels and sparked debate about goalie interference rules. After a scramble in the crease, Islanders forward Marc Gatcomb’s stick became lodged in Mackenzie Blackwood’s pads, preventing the goaltender from properly defending his net. Kyle MacLean capitalized by spinning and firing the puck into the top corner while Blackwood was effectively immobilized.

Colorado coach Jared Bednar immediately challenged the play, but NHL officials upheld the goal under Rule 69.7, which permits incidental contact in rebound situations. Bednar didn’t mince words after the game, calling the decision “a joke” and stating, “If that’s not goalie interference, I don’t know what is. You can’t just shove the goalie’s pads out of the way to create a loose puck.”

The controversial call seemed to rattle the Avalanche, who struggled to find their rhythm throughout the first period. Lee’s goal just before intermission compounded their frustration, leaving them in an unfamiliar two-goal hole. The deficit forced Colorado to play catch-up against a Islanders team structured to protect leads.

The early controversy highlighted the fine margins that separate victory from defeat at hockey’s highest level. While Colorado believed they were victimized by a questionable call, they also acknowledged they never recovered from the initial setback. The goal stood, and the Islanders used it as a springboard for their offensive explosion.

Mathew Barzal’s brilliance anchors Islanders offensive outburst

Mathew Barzal showcased why he’s considered one of the NHL’s elite playmakers, controlling the game’s tempo with his vision and creativity. His first-period assist on Lee’s goal demonstrated his ability to attack defenses with speed before finding teammates in prime scoring positions. The Avalanche had no answer for his combination of skill and hockey intelligence.

Bo Horvat extended the lead to 3-0 early in the second period, converting his own rebound for his team-leading 17th goal of the season. The play resulted from relentless Islanders pressure, with rookie Matthew Schaefer creating chaos that led to multiple scoring chances. Sixty-one seconds later, defenseman Adam Pelech beat Blackwood with a seemingly harmless shot from the left circle that handcuffed the goaltender.

Barzal’s signature moment came late in the second period with the Islanders clinging to a 4-2 lead. On the power play, he converted a backhander with less than two minutes remaining, restoring a three-goal advantage and effectively crushing Colorado’s comeback hopes. The highlight-reel goal demonstrated his ability to elevate his game when his team needs it most.

Casey Cizikas added an empty-net goal late in the third period to seal the victory, but the damage had already been done. The Islanders’ six goals represented the most allowed by Colorado this season, and the 42 shots on goal exposed cracks in the Avalanche’s normally stingy defense.

Nathan MacKinnon silenced as Islanders defense stands tall

Containing Nathan MacKinnon is perhaps the NHL’s most difficult assignment, but the Islanders accomplished the nearly impossible task. The league’s leading scorer (46 points entering the game) was held off the scoresheet entirely, managing just two shots on goal in 43:29 of ice time. It was only the fifth time in 27 games this season that MacKinnon failed to record a point.

Islanders coach Patrick Roy implemented a defensive scheme that prevented MacKinnon from finding open ice or generating his usual transition opportunities. The center, who leads the NHL with 22 goals, found himself consistently surrounded by multiple defenders and unable to create separation. His frustration grew as the game progressed and the deficit widened.

Ilya Sorokin played a crucial role in the defensive effort, making several key saves at pivotal moments. His stop on Artturi Lehkonen during a second-period 2-on-1 rush preserved the Islanders’ momentum just before Barzal’s power-play goal. “I think that gave us the confidence,” Roy said of the save. “Ilya made the key save at the right time.”

The Islanders also effectively neutralized Cale Makar, the NHL’s highest-scoring defenseman, limiting his impact until late in the game. While Makar managed two assists, including setting up Lehkonen’s third-period goal, he couldn’t generate the offense Colorado needed to complete their comeback. The defensive performance proved that even the league’s most explosive offense can be contained with discipline and structure.

What this upset means for both teams moving forward

The loss dropped Colorado to 19-2-6, but they remain the NHL’s top team in points percentage (.815) and goal differential (plus-47). Their dominance this season has been so complete that one regulation loss, while disappointing, hardly derails their championship aspirations. However, it does expose vulnerabilities that playoff opponents will study closely.

“We’ve had bad periods, we’ve had bad stretches that we’ve overcome, but I look at a lot of that game and we’re still digging in,” Bednar said. “It was closer than you think, but it still wasn’t good enough. We’ve just got to make sure the next one is.” The Avalanche must now regroup for the second game of their four-game East Coast road trip against the Rangers on Saturday.

For the Islanders, the victory serves as a statement win that could define their season. They’ve now beaten Colorado twice this season, with MacKinnon held pointless in both meetings. The result validates Roy’s system and proves that when executing properly, they can compete with the league’s elite. As they prepare to visit the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday, the Islanders carry renewed confidence and proof of their potential.

The upset also highlighted the importance of goaltending depth. With Avalanche backup Scott Wedgewood sidelined by back tightness, Blackwood faced 42 shots and acknowledged his performance fell short. “I didn’t play my best game, that’s for sure,” he said. “I’ll take that loss on me. I could have been better.” Colorado enters a critical stretch where they’ll need consistent goaltending to maintain their position atop the standings.

In a league where parity reigns, the Islanders reminded everyone that on any given night, any team can defeat the best in the world. The 2025 NHL season now has its signature upset, and the echoes from UBS Arena will resonate as both teams navigate the challenges ahead. For New York, it’s a foundation to build upon. For Colorado, it’s a humbling reminder that greatness requires consistency every single night.