SAN JOSE, CA – The first game of islanders without Brock Nelson proved how important Ilya Sorokin is for the playoff push.
The islanders left San Jose and beat the Sharks 4-2, but not the most beautiful performance of the group that made a hole in the deal that sent Nelson to Colorado on Friday.
The Sharks dominated the early stages, primarily Sorokin's first-term saves, giving the islanders the ability to take an early lead before opening the game third.
Anthony Duclair and JG Pageau's first goal gave the islanders an early lead, and Anders Lee's third-term tally gave them some insurance after Nikolai Kovalenko pulled San Jose back within 2-1.
Adam Boqvist's power play goal – the second goal of the night for the islanders after Duclair – bowed to give the island a 4-1 lead early in the third season.
The victory allowed the islanders to move three points from their blue jackets towards the final playoff spot in the eastern part.
