Ilya Sorokin Shines in Islanders’ Dramatic Win Over Devils
It’s just three games, but Ilya Sorokin has truly stood out. He seems more in control, confident, and, dare I say, capable of pushing the Islanders to the playoffs in 2023. That kind of performance is hard to ignore, especially in the NHL.
After earning his first shutout of the season on Saturday, Sorokin played a pivotal role in Monday’s game against the Devils, who were the top team in the Metropolitan Division. His efforts helped the Islanders transform a sluggish start into a thrilling 3-2 overtime victory, marking New Jersey’s first-ever loss at the Prudential Center.
The Islanders managed to rebound from Simon Nemec’s equalizer with just 4.7 seconds left in regulation, ultimately clinching the win with Mathew Barzal’s overtime goal.
As the team prepares for a long road trip starting in Las Vegas, there’s a sense of optimism. Sure, there are things to work out, but with Sorokin in goal, they believe they can compete in any match.
Interestingly, the Islanders just snagged two wins—the best start to a young season they could hope for.
Things really started to pick up when Cal Ritchie got called for a hook in the third period, with the score tied at 1. The Islanders stepped up their game on the penalty kill after allowing an early power-play goal, successfully limiting the Devils’ opportunities and even forcing Jacob Markstrom to make a critical save on a short-handed breakaway by Jean-Gabriel Pageau.
Minutes later, Barzal found himself in penalty trouble, adding to the pressure.
But the Islanders responded well. Shortly after their power play kicked in, Kyle Palmieri tipped in a rebound to give them a 2-1 lead. Unfortunately, this lead was short-lived as Nemec’s shot took a lucky bounce off Simon Holmstrom, allowing the Devils to tie it up by the end of regulation.
Yet, the pain didn’t linger too long; Barzal scored just 1 minute and 17 seconds into overtime, clinching a hard-fought game. It was, in all respects, winnable, although the Islanders appeared a bit lackluster for much of the night. The Devils weren’t exactly dominant either, and Sorokin proved yet again to be the standout player, making a jaw-dropping stop on Jack Hughes in the second period.
The game oscillated in pace, particularly during the second period, when both teams battled through what felt like post-back-to-back fatigue. If you didn’t know better, you might think both teams were running on empty.
As for the goaltenders, while the Devils had Markstrom, Sorokin outshined him once more.
The Islanders started on the back foot, taking too many penalties early on. After just 38 seconds, Timo Meier scored from the slot, putting New Jersey up 1-0. At that moment, it seemed like they were in for a tough night. However, the Devils failed to capitalize further, and the Islanders managed to strike back.
Bo Horvat leveled the score at 1-1 in the second period, taking advantage of a rush to score his 12th goal of the season. This opened the door for the Islanders, who seized the moment with 20 minutes to go.
