Ilya Sorokin outduels Connor Hellebuyck in Islanders' win over Jets
Ilya Sorokin of the Islanders makes a save during the second period against the Jets at UBS Arena on Wednesday. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Not surprisingly, it was a low-scoring game.
The Jets’ Connor Hellebuyck has won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top goalie and the Islanders’ Ilya Sorokin could be a candidate this season. Clutch goaltending, of course, is crucial for any team’s playoff push and the Islanders helped theirs with a 2-1 win on Wednesday night at UBS Arena.
“Two of the top goalies in the league,” Matt Martin said. “You’re not going to score on them at will unless you get extremely lucky one night. You can expect a close game. Ilya really kept us in it through the first two periods.”
The injury-depleted Islanders (30-24-7) won their second straight despite missing forwards Mathew Barzal, Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Josh Bailey to injuries. They hold the Eastern Conference’s first wild-card spot, three points ahead of the Panthers, who have played one fewer game and are in the second wild-card spot. The Penguins are four points back but have played five fewer games as have the Red Wings, who are five points behind the Islanders.
“It starts with our goaltender,” coach Lane Lambert said. “The guys are sticking to the structure. I thought we did a very good job in the third period of making sure we stayed above a team that is very dynamic and dangerous in terms of their offensively abilities.”
Sorokin made 25 saves — the Islanders were outshot 11-4 in the second period — while Hellebuyck stopped 20 shots for the Jets (35-22-1), yielding Simon Holmstrom’s winner on a rising wrist shot from the slot at 9:57 of the third period.
Sorokin was coming off a brilliant 44-save performance that allowed the Islanders to rally for a 4-2 road win over the Penguins on Monday night. Hellebuyck made 50 saves that night in a 4-1 win over the Rangers at Madison Square Garden.
Strong special teams performances, in addition to solid goaltending, is also a must-have for any team’s playoff push.
The Jets did go 1-for-4 on the power play, tying the game on Nikolaj Ehlers hard shot from the left circle at 4:30 of the second period, while the Islanders were 0-for-4. Losing Barzal, who
controls the power play from the half-wall with the puck on his stick, has been noticeable.
But the Islanders’ penalty kill stood out as the Jets had two power-play chances in the third period that yielded just two shots.
“It was very good,” Sorokin said. “Why? I don’t know. Ask the defenseman. I was happy it was (two) shots.”
The Islanders were also solid after Hellebuyck was pulled for an extra skater.
“We have a good plan,” said Zach Parise, who blocked shots by Kyle Connor and Ehlers after Hellebuyck came off the ice and logged 2:41 on the penalty kill. “You know what they want to do. You’re not always going to prevent it. But when we stick to how we want to kill it, we’re going to try to limit what they want to do. You try to make them a little uncomfortable. We try to make them a little impatient.”
Sorokin kept the Jets from an early goal when he somehow got a glove on Blake Wheeler’s wide-open, tip-in try at the post at 4:51 of the first period with the puck sliding harmlessly through the crease.
Sorokin also slid to his left to stone defenseman Josh Morrissey with the teams skating four-on-four at 17:00 of the first period, allowing the Islanders to take a 1-0 lead 35 seconds later. Brock Nelson led a two-on-one rush on the right, with Hellebuyck making the initial save. But defenseman Sebastian Aho buried the rebound on the far side.
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.
