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

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.

Islanders: At the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday.

Canadiens: Host the Washington Capitals on Saturday.

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

New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (30) makes a save against Montreal Canadiens' Nick Suzuki (14) during second-period NHL hockey game action in Montreal, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

New York Islanders' Jean-Gabriel Pageau (44) scores on Montreal Canadiens goaltender Samuel Montembeault (35) during the overtime of an NHL hockey game in Montreal, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

New York Islanders' Jean-Gabriel Pageau (44) beats Montreal Canadiens' Juraj Slafkovsky (20) to score on goaltender Samuel Montembeault (35) during the overtime of an NHL hockey game 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)

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Kevin Durant scored 26 of his season-high 40 points in the second half and the Houston Rockets wiped out a 19-point Orlando lead in less than four minutes to beat the Magic 113-108 on Thursday night.

Reed Sheppard came off the Houston bench to add 20 points, hitting five 3-pointers in the second half. Alperen Sengun had 16 points, six rebounds and five assists.

Desmond Bane led the Magic with 30 points. Paolo Banchero added 19 points, nine assists and eight rebounds.

Jalen Suggs, coming off the Magic bench for the first time this season, scored three points in 13 minutes after missing three games with back spasms.

Bane hit all five of his 3-point attempts in the first half, helping Orlando to a 53-43 lead.

The Magic led 76-57 when Banchero converted a steal by Suggs into a dunk with 5:04 left in the third quarter. The Rockets responded with a 21-0 run over the next 3 1/2 minutes. Sheppard hit three 3-pointers and scored 11 points during the run, which left Houston with a one-point lead.

Three baskets by Bane helped the Magic regain a five-point lead in the middle of the fourth quarter, but Durant scored seven straight Rockets points and assisted a layup by Sengun that put Houston up for good, 101-100 with 3:07 remaining.

Durant made 14 of 28 shots and finished with eight rebounds and three assists.

The Rockets made 10 of their final 17 3-pointers after hitting one of 12 before the big rally.

Rockets: At Miami on Saturday.

Magic: Host Detroit on Sunday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) makes a move to the basket agate goes between Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun, left, and forward Jabari Smith Jr., right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero, right, looks for a shot against Houston Rockets center Clint Capela (30) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant, left, shoots over Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) celebrates with teammates center Alperen Sengun (28) and guard Amen Thompson, center, after making a shot after he was fouled during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant, right, goes to the basket against Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)