Ilya Sorokin continues to be a brick wall in net, and Monday night was just another chapter in what’s becoming a dominant season for the Islanders' goaltender. With 21 saves against the Flyers, Sorokin locked down his league-leading sixth shutout of the year-and his third this month alone. He didn’t just stop pucks; he smothered any hope Philly had of building momentum, turning away every shot with calm, clinical precision.
The Islanders, coming off a shutout loss of their own, responded with a complete effort in all phases. Jean-Gabriel Pageau led the charge, notching two goals-including a short-handed tally that snapped New York’s scoring drought and set the tone early.
That shorty, Pageau’s ninth of the season, came off a breakaway where he beat Samuel Ersson cleanly, capitalizing on a Flyers power play that’s been far too generous this year. That was the fifth short-handed goal allowed by Philadelphia this season-an area that continues to haunt them.
Pageau wasn’t done. He put the exclamation point on the win late in the third, hammering home his second goal of the game and sealing a 4-0 victory that was never really in doubt.
The Islanders got goals from all over the ice. Mathew Barzal redirected a shot from rookie defenseman Isaiah George midway through the second period to make it 2-0.
That was Barzal’s 12th of the season, and it came at even strength. Not long after, Tony DeAngelo-facing his former team-cashed in on the power play to stretch the lead.
That three-pronged scoring attack (short-handed, even strength, and power play) showcased just how complete the Isles’ effort was.
For the Flyers, the night was a harsh reminder of how quickly momentum can fade. Just three weeks ago, they were sitting in a playoff spot, riding a wave of strong play.
Then came a six-game skid that knocked them off course. They briefly steadied the ship with two wins in three games on the road, including a statement 7-3 win in Colorado against the NHL’s top team.
But whatever spark they had didn’t make the trip back to Philly.
The Flyers looked flat from the opening faceoff. They rarely challenged Sorokin with high-danger chances and never found a rhythm offensively.
The energy in the building matched the performance on the ice-muted, with a sparse crowd braving a winter storm to watch a team that couldn’t muster a single goal. By the end, the few fans still in their seats were chanting, “At least get one!”
But the Flyers couldn’t oblige.
With the win, the Islanders snapped a two-game skid and held onto third place in the Metropolitan Division-an important bounce-back as the playoff race tightens. They’ll look to build on this momentum with a crucial back-to-back against the rival Rangers, starting Wednesday at home before heading to Madison Square Garden on Thursday.
The Flyers, meanwhile, will try to regroup on the road again. They head to Columbus on Wednesday, hoping to rediscover the form that had them looking like a surprise playoff contender not long ago.