http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEGxgXrQG1Y

Kyle Okposo scored with 1:37 left in regulation forcing overtime at HP Pavilion. His goal came with Kevin Poulin on the bench for an extra attacker. John Tavares won the faceoff back to Okposo, who quickly fired a wrist shot that beat Antti Niemi short side for the equalizer. His ninth of the season allowed the Islanders to rally from a two-goal deficit for an emotional 3-2 shootout win.

Ironically, Okposo notched the shootout winner in Round 4 when he beat Niemi again to clinch the Isles’ first win in 11 games. They last won on Nov. 16 in a shootout over the Red Wings. They had been struggling mightily entering play winless in 10 (0-8-2) straight. It looked like a high powered Sharks attack would send them to another defeat. San Jose got second period goals from Patrick Marleau and Joe Pavelski to take a two-goal lead into the third.

”This was big for us,” Okposo said. ”They’re a good team. As bad as we played in the first period, to stick with it all game and go into the third period down 2-0, to get this win was huge.”

But the Islanders fought back valiantly thanks to their top line. Thomas Vanek steered home an Okposo rebound that cut it to 2-1 at 53 seconds of the third. Tavares made the play by cutting in on Niemi and forcing him into a difficult save. Okposo and Vanek pounced to get them pack in it.

If not for the steady play of Poulin, they wouldn’t have had a chance. At times brilliant, he made 46 saves including 18 in the first and 16 in the third to keep his team in it. Jack Capuano sent Poulin to the bench for a six on five. Tavares executed it to perfect by winning the draw cleanly back to Okposo for the game tying goal.

”Johnny has done a great job for us on drops,” Okposo added. ”I was looking to find someone but I had a lane and I tried to get it in there. It had eyes.”

”This is a very good feeling,” Tavares pointed out after tallying his team-leading 23rd and 24th assists. Despite the team’s inconsistency, the Islander captain is fifth in NHL scoring with 36 points (12-24-36). ”It gives us some confidence, but at the same time we can’t relax. They came out hard and Poulie did a great job of keeping us in it until we finally generated some momentum.”

The Islanders conclude a five-game road trip at Phoenix Thursday. It will be the debut of 20-year old rookie Ryan Strome.