Islanders’ Goaltender Shines in Crucial Win
This season has brought a lot of changes for the Islanders, from new players like Matthew Schaefer and Mathieu Darche to a buzzing atmosphere within the organization. They’ve scored 180 points compared to a year ago, yet it’s easy to overlook what really matters in playoff contention: the goaltender. This key player was drafted by Garth Snow and brought to North America by Lou Lamoriello, and he has been the backbone of the team ever since.
At least, we tend to forget that until it’s right in our faces.
That’s what unfolded as time wound down during Sunday night’s game. Ilya Sorokin, who faced pressure late in the third period, kept the Islanders in the match, securing a vital 1-0 victory over the Blue Jackets. It was probably their most crucial win of the season.
This marked Sorokin’s seventh shutout of the year, a league-leading achievement.
Just the night before, he’d been suspended for the first time this season after allowing six goals in a challenging matchup in Montreal. Yet, Sorokin remained composed, displaying his usual steadiness.
“This is a game,” he noted. “And we have 20 hours until the next one. I’m trying to forget about the last game, like a bad day. Today I woke up and just enjoyed it—my morning routine with the players. This moment feels good.”
Maybe he was the only Islander able to take a breather until the very end.
The team was without Ryan Pulock and Anthony Duclair, both sidelined by lower-body injuries. Bo Horvat described this game as the most stressful of the season so far.
Following two consecutive losses, there was a sense that this match was pivotal. Another defeat might have shifted the team’s outlook drastically.
Even securing a win wouldn’t guarantee they controlled their playoff fate.
The Isles are currently in the wild card spot, having played one more game than Detroit, while being just one point ahead of them. They’re also tied for third in the Metro with Columbus in total points, having played the same number of games as well.
Nonetheless, getting this win felt big for them.
Horvat kicked things off remarkably, scoring just 85 seconds into the match after a quick play from Anders Lee. Despite being in the second leg of back-to-back games, the Islanders didn’t show any signs of fatigue.
“You get tested when you lose a few games,” Coach Patrick Roy mentioned. “It’s a chance to see how well we can perform. I wasn’t surprised by the team’s resilience. It’s a privilege to coach these players.”
The Isles needed every bit of that resilience as Horvat’s goal cut into their deficit while heading into a low-scoring third period.
Later, Horvat had another shot that, had it gone in, would’ve been his second goal—but a goaltender interference challenge led to it being disallowed, leaving the team feeling frustrated.
To be honest, it wasn’t a perfect third period, as the Blue Jackets had multiple chances, even getting a 5-on-1 opportunity late. However, Sorokin made seven crucial saves in the final moments.
Though better than they had been against teams like Ottawa and Montreal, the Islanders still faced struggles, particularly for their goaltenders.
But Sorokin stood tall, blocking all 23 shots he encountered and firmly stating his case for the Vezina Trophy with his standout performance.
“I feel better today than I did yesterday,” he remarked. “Usually, in a back-to-back situation, you feel more energized. I’m not sure why, but I just feel good today.”
Perhaps it’s his legendary drive to compete that fueled his performance.
“When you’re not completely satisfied with a game, you crave to play again immediately,” Roy added. “That desire enhances your focus, and Sorokin is someone who thrives on competition.”
On Sunday, it was Sorokin who delivered for the Islanders, securing what everyone agreed was their best win of the season.
“Those last five minutes were tough,” he admitted. “But once it’s over, you just take a deep breath.”
