Islanders' Ilya Sorokin strong in net, but Blues win in overtime on game's only goal
St. Louis Blues' Jake Neighbours (63) scores a goal against Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (30) during the overtime period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in St. Louis. Credit: AP/Scott Kane
ST. LOUIS — The Islanders are coming home with any lingering questions about franchise goalie Ilya Sorokin and his offseason back surgery apparently answered.
“He’s been as sharp as I’ve seen him, honestly,” defenseman Ryan Pulock said. “He looks poised. He looks confident. He’s making the easy saves. He’s making the hard saves. He’s been a wall for us.”
Instead, it might be the offense — specifically, finishing chances — that needs work after the Islanders concluded a three-game road trip with a 1-0 overtime loss to the Blues on Thursday night at Enterprise Center, the second time in three matches they were blanked.
Sorokin and Blues counterpart Joel Hofer were the centerpieces in a classic goalies’ duel as both teams had skating space. Jake Neighbours squirted the puck through Sorokin at 2:04 of the extra period on a rush to the crease.
“Usually in this moment, the player has the puck and starts to make a move like a breakaway,” said Sorokin, who stopped 29 shots after a 32-save performance as the Islanders (1-1-2) beat the Avalanche, 6-2, in Colorado on Monday. “But he made a smart move just to have a chipped puck. It’s a good play for him.”
Hofer made 34 saves for the Blues (3-2-0) for his second career shutout.
“He’s amazing,” Hofer said of Sorokin. “He’s real fun to watch. Those are fun games to be a part of, especially against those kinds of guys on the other side.”
“I thought we competed well,” Islanders coach Patrick Roy said. “We had our chances, especially in the third period [10 shots]. A couple ones, I just couldn’t believe they didn’t go in. Overall, I thought we played very well defensively. And when we did not, Ilya made those key saves for us.”
The trip started with a 3-0 loss in Dallas that Roy deemed the Islanders’ best game of the three. But their effort and structure certainly were on point against the Blues.
“We definitely had our looks,” said defenseman Noah Dobson, who had a game-high six shots. “Probably gave up a little too many good looks. Both goalies played great. Ilya gave us a chance all night. It’s unfortunate we weren’t able to get one for him.”
According to NaturalStatTrick.com, the Islanders had 10 high-danger chances skating five-on-five to the Blues’ six and had an expected goals for of 2.32 to the Blues’ 1.74.
Sorokin, entering the first season of an eight-year, $66 million extension. missed all six preseason games and most of training camp as he recovered from his surgery. He also struggled toward the end of last season and finished with a 25-19-12 mark with a 2.99 goals-against average and .909 save percentage. Semyon Varlamov started four of the Islanders’ five playoff games and Sorokin was pulled from his start.
He looked strong in his positioning and rebound control against the Blues, challenging shooters when he needed to and sealing the posts.
Sorokin stopped all 14 shots he faced in the second period — so did Hofer — and battled back after defenseman Alexander Romanov turned the puck over in the Islanders’ zone at 11:58, leading to Brayden Schenn’s shot off the left post. Sorokin lost his stick in the ensuing scramble but managed to pounce on the puck for an important stoppage.
The Islanders managed only three shots on near back-to-back power plays in the second period, with Mathieu Joseph hooking defenseman Adam Pelech at 5:02 and his brother, Pierre-Olivier Joseph, high-sticking Casey Cizikas at 8:11.
Notes & quotes: The Islanders will play four of their next five games at UBS Arena, starting on Saturday night against the Canadiens . . . Defenseman Scott Mayfield, who grew up in St. Louis, had a game-high four blocked shots . . . The Islanders’ penalty kill went 5-for-5 on the trip . . . The week-long trip afforded the Islanders some valuable bonding time, including a bowling outing on their off day in St. Louis. “I think it helps a lot,” Roy said. “It’s nice to be together. It gives us time to work on things we want on video and in practice. And it was fun. We gathered together the other day and had a great activity.’’ . . . Defenseman Dennis Cholowski and forward Julien Gauthier remained the healthy scratches.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
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