The New York Islanders needed a response after a rough outing against Buffalo, and they delivered exactly that in Philadelphia. With a couple of lineup changes due to injuries and illness-Cal Ritchie (lower body) and Simon Holmstrom (illness) were out-Max Tsyplakov and Marc Gatcomb stepped in, and the team as a whole bounced back with a strong, structured performance that checked all the boxes: scoring depth, special teams execution, and elite goaltending.
Let’s start with the man between the pipes. Ilya Sorokin was once again the anchor, recording his league-leading sixth shutout of the season.
He made timely saves, controlled rebounds, and looked dialed in from puck drop to final horn. It wasn’t just another clean sheet-it was a statement.
Sorokin continues to be the backbone of this Islanders team, and nights like this only reinforce his status as one of the NHL’s elite netminders.
Up front, JG Pageau set the tone with a vintage two-way performance. He scored twice-including a shorthanded goal-and was relentless on the penalty kill.
Pageau’s ability to create offense while down a man is a weapon, and tonight he reminded everyone just how dangerous he can be in those moments. His second goal, set up by Max Tsyplakov, not only sealed the win but also gave Tsyplakov his first NHL assist-a nice milestone in a bounce-back team effort.
Mat Barzal, who had been benched in the third period of the previous game, responded the way you want a top player to respond: with impact. He scored a goal, added an assist, and was active all night.
His goal came off a nice tip on an Isaiah George shot-George, by the way, notched his first NHL assist in just his second game back with the big club. That’s the kind of contribution from young players that can make a difference over the grind of a season.
The Islanders also capitalized on a Flyers turnover late in the second period. Anthony Duclair jumped on the mistake at the blue line and quickly found Barzal, who set up Tony DeAngelo for a clean finish to make it 3-0. That line showed real chemistry and awareness, and Duclair continues to show his value as a high-IQ winger who can make plays in transition.
There were a few tense moments-Jonathan Drouin took a puck to the face late in the second and headed straight down the tunnel, but he returned in the third with stitches and didn’t miss a shift. Emil Heineman collided awkwardly with a referee but was able to continue without issue. Those are the kind of gritty efforts that don’t show up on the scoresheet but matter in the room.
The Flyers had their chances, especially early, but the Islanders’ penalty kill was airtight. They killed off multiple penalties, including a stretch where they were down two defensemen after Scott Mayfield and Owen Tippett were sent off. That’s where Sorokin’s calm presence and the structure of the Isles’ PK really shined.
Special teams were a mixed bag overall-New York couldn’t convert on a couple of power play chances, including one after a high-sticking call on Tippett-but the shorthanded goal from Pageau and the even-strength execution more than made up for it.
When the final horn sounded, it was a complete team win. Pageau (2G), Barzal (1G, 1A), and Duclair (2A) all finished with multi-point nights. Sorokin’s shutout extended his franchise record and solidified his Vezina-caliber campaign.
What’s Next
The Islanders now turn their attention to a big home-and-home back-to-back with the New York Rangers, starting Wednesday at UBS Arena. And there’s already some added spice: a rare trade between the two rivals is in the works, with Carson Soucy reportedly heading to Long Island in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick. If the deal becomes official in time, Soucy could debut immediately-against his former team, no less-and potentially fill a much-needed role on the Isles’ bottom defensive pair.
With momentum back on their side and a key addition possibly joining the fold, the Islanders have a chance to keep climbing. And with Sorokin playing like this, they’re going to be a tough out for anyone.