Thomas Vanek steers in a rebound as snubbed American linemate Kyle Okposo looks on.
Getty Images/Kathy Kmonicek

There are statements and then there are STATEMENTS. Judging by Kyle Okposo’s response to being left off Team USA, he sent a loud message to David Poile and Dan Bylsma. They may have made a mistake. Whether that proves to be true remains to be seen. American hockey fans won’t get the answer until next month in Sochi.

For at least one night, Okposo got a hero’s spotlight by scoring the overtime winner at 58 seconds highlighting the Islanders’ 3-2 win over the Blackhawks at Nassau Coliseum. A fitting conclusion to a great game. It was their third consecutive victory. The last two have come over last year’s Stanley Cup finalists. On the heels of a four-point game for star John Tavares in a road win over the Bruins, they started 2014 off the right way by defeating the defending champs.

It was an entertaining game that saw both teams skate up and down the ice. A wide open affair that forced each goalie to be on their toes. Evgeni Nabokov was sensational for the Islanders finishing with 37 saves. In his return, Corey Crawford was just as brilliant turning in 31. There were no easy stops on a snowy January night on Long Island.

Despite Chicago controlling much of the first, Casey Cizikas scored the lone goal. The Blackhawks got tons of pressure outshooting the Islanders 12-5 but couldn’t beat a razor sharp Nabokov. It was a sloppy turnover that resulted in Cizikas beating Crawford on a breakaway for his fifth. Bryan Bickell fumbled a Johnny Oduya outlet allowing Cizikas to get behind and go forehand deke for the opening goal.

Following a couple of strong early shifts in the second, the Islanders responded with some strong play in the Hawks’ end. The hard work paid dividends when Thomas Vanek slammed home a rebound for his 14th to increase to 2-0. Okposo was in front and got a piece of an Andrew MacDonald rebound with his skate freeing the puck to Vanek.

Chicago started to come in waves. MVP candidate Patrick Kane hit the post and also had another shot redirect off the crossbar. The Hawks finally got a power play when Matt Carkner was sent off for a trip late in the stanza. It didn’t take long for them to cash in with Brent Seabrook one-timing a Kris Versteeg diagonal feed through a sliding Nabokov’s five-hole, cutting it to 2-1 with 1:24 left.

Put on a power play with 25 seconds remaining, the Isles failed to capitalize. Instead, a desperate Blackhawks killed Patrick Sharp’s cross-checking minor and got the game tied. Ironically, it was Sharp, who came out of the box that set up Ben Smith’s tying goal at 1:50 of the third. He snuck in from behind the boards and forced Nabokov to kick out a rebound of a stuff attempt. The puck came to Smith, who buried it his fifth to strong support from a Hawk contingent.

Despite blowing a two-goal lead, the Islanders didn’t fold. They kept attacking and easily could’ve won it in regulation. One opportunity saw Okposo dangle around Hawk defenders but pass up a chance to shoot centering for a covered Tavares. A bit later, he had Tavares open on a two on one but the Islander captain pushed the puck back into Crawford. All night, the storyline had been about how Okposo didn’t make Team USA. He was one of a select few who were snubbed. In the final minute, Crawford robbed him.

It was all the more appropriate that in the first shift of OT, Okposo sent Islander fans home happy. With Tavares in shooting position, he drew Duncan Keith and Sharp. His shot was blocked caroming to an isolated Okposo for the game clincher. He celebrated by leaping into the boards and was greeted by chants of, “USA, USA, USA!” Everyone knew how much it meant to him. Fitting he’d win it when he was the best Islander forward.

BONY 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Andrew MacDonald, NYI (2 assists, 5 blocked shots, +2 in 24:31)

2nd Star-Evgeni Nabokov, NYI (37 saves incl. 12/13 in 3rd)

1st Star-Kyle Okposo, NYI (OT winner at 58 seconds-16th, assist-26th, +2 in 19:43)