Ilya Sorokin Steals the Show as Islanders Blank Oilers in Edmonton
On a night when the New York Islanders were outshot nearly 2-to-1, it was Ilya Sorokin who stood tallest-literally and figuratively. The Isles’ netminder turned in a 35-save masterpiece to shut out the high-octane Edmonton Oilers 1-0, notching his league-leading fifth shutout of the season. In a game where offense was scarce and the margin razor-thin, Sorokin’s brilliance was the difference.
Let’s be clear: this wasn’t just a good night in net-it was a statement. Sorokin denied every single chance the Oilers threw at him, including five shots from Connor McDavid, whose 20-game point streak came to a screeching halt.
That’s no small feat. McDavid had his looks, too-none better than a first-period setup to Zach Hyman that Sorokin read perfectly, sliding across to smother the point-blank chance.
From that moment on, you could feel it-Sorokin was locked in.
“You can tell when he's on,” said Mathew Barzal. “But there's not many nights he's not.”
Sorokin wasn’t just reacting-he was dictating. He challenged McDavid aggressively, met Hyman and Curtis Lazar with pokechecks, and stayed composed through a chaotic final minute that saw Leon Draisaitl fire a puck through the crease and off the post with 34.3 seconds left. Even when the Oilers thought they had cracked him-like when Evan Bouchard rang one off the iron on a third-period power play-the hockey gods (and a quick video review) confirmed otherwise.
“It’s a big shutout against best player in the league,” Sorokin said postgame. And you could tell this one meant a little more.
Duclair Delivers on the Power Play
While Sorokin owned the spotlight, the game-winner came off the stick of Anthony Duclair, who buried a slick one-timer on the power play with just over six minutes to play. It was the kind of moment the Islanders needed-opportunistic, efficient, and timely.
Barzal started the sequence, circling the zone with the puck like a quarterback scanning his reads. He found Cal Ritchie, who pulled off a smooth spin-o-rama pass to Duclair in the slot. One touch, one goal, and just like that, the Isles snapped a five-game power-play drought.
“Those are the type of games that we need to bury our [power play] chances,” Duclair said. “We're not getting too many calls our way, so when we do get an opportunity, we want to make sure that we capitalize.”
They did just that-and it was the only one they needed.
Barzal Hits 500 Career Points
The assist on Duclair’s goal was more than just a pretty play-it was a milestone for Barzal. It marked the 500th point of his NHL career, making him the 14th player in Islanders history to hit that mark. He’s now sitting at 145 goals and 355 assists through 576 games, and he’s done it with the kind of playmaking flair that’s made him a fan favorite since day one.
“A lot of credit to my teammates,” Barzal said. “I'm moreso a passer my entire career, so a lot of credit to my teammates for putting the puck in the back of the net. It takes a lot of people, including my family and everybody to get to a milestone like tonight, so it's cool.”
Grinding It Out
Let’s not sugarcoat it-the Islanders didn’t dominate this game. They were outshot 35-18 and managed just six shots on goal over the final two periods. But they leaned into their identity: tight structure, opportunistic offense, and elite goaltending.
Marc Gatcomb had a breakaway early in the first, and Barzal rang a backhander off the post in the third. But for the most part, the Isles had to weather the storm and wait for their moment. It came on the man advantage, and they didn’t miss.
Credit also goes to head coach Patrick Roy, who made a subtle but effective adjustment early. He moved Jonathan Drouin up to skate with JG Pageau and Simon Holmstrom, while Max Shabanov joined Emil Heineman and Cal Ritchie. The Drouin-Pageau-Holmstrom line played a key role in the dying moments, pinning the Oilers deep during a frantic six-on-five push.
A Win Years in the Making
This was the Islanders’ first win in Edmonton since March 7, 2017-and their first shutout in Oil Country since Game 1 of the 1983 Stanley Cup Final. That’s not just a stat; it’s a reminder of how hard it is to win in that building, especially against a team with the firepower of Edmonton.
But the Isles got it done. They improved to 2-1-1 on their road trip and, more importantly, showed they can win ugly when they need to. With Sorokin playing like the best goalie on the planet-and his teammates grinding out just enough offense-the Islanders continue to find ways to stay in the fight.
Next Up
The road trip rolls on as the Islanders head to Calgary for a Saturday matinee against the Flames. Puck drops at 3 PM ET. If Sorokin brings anything close to Thursday’s form, the Isles will be in good hands.