Ilya Sorokin Lights Out As Islanders Win Three of Four
After a rough first week in Carolina and Florida, the Islanders looked to turn their season around in their second week of the regular season. The Blue and Orange started the week in Chicago as battled the Blackhawks, soon later they traveled to Columbus to take on Blue Jackets then to the desert to play the struggling Arizona Coyotes, and finally to Vegas to take on the Golden Knights. Ilya Sorokin was lights out as the Islanders win three of four and earn points in all four. The Islanders have improved to an all-time best under head coach Barry Trotz, 3-2-1 with 7 points through six games.
Oct. 19- New York Islanders @ Chicago Blackhawks
The Islanders were back in action on Tuesday night in Chicago as they took on the Blackhawks for the first time in over a year. A very hungry Islanders team that lost their first two were desperately looking for their first win and came out flying scoring four goals before the Blackhawks answered with one late in the third. The Islanders won 4-1 and earned their first win of the 2021 NHL season.
Oct. 21- New York Islanders @ Columbus Blue Jackets
The Islanders continued their 13-game road trip in Columbus as they battled the Blue Jackets and looked to keep it rolling and start a winning streak. In a very winnable game for the Islanders, they fell short in overtime as Patrik Laine won it for the Blue Jackets. The Isles picked up a point and now picked up points in their last two games.
Oct. 23- New York Islanders @ Arizona Coyotes
With a 1-2-1 start through their first five games, the Islanders had to turn their season around and earn a win on the road and had the perfect opportunity to do so as they were taking on the winless Arizona Coyotes. With a dominant performance in net from Ilya Sorokin and some line changes by Barry Trotz, the Islanders defeated the Coyotes 3-0 and Sorokin recorded his first shutout of the season. Josh Bailey and Kyle Palmieri switched roles with Palmieri playing on the second line with Nelson and Beauvillier and Bailey playing on the first line with Barzal and Lee. It worked out well with a combined four points from Nelson, Bailey, and Beauvillier.
Oct. 24- New York Islanders @ Vegas Golden Knights
The Islanders traveled to Vegas to play the Golden Knights in their first of nineteen back-to-back games throughout the season. After coming off of a dominant 3-0 to the Coyotes the Islanders looked hoped the momentum would carry over and it did. The Islanders beat the Golden Knights 2-0 thanks to Ilya Sorokin who posted a 42-save shutout making some phenomenal saves. Sorokin was the first goaltender in New York Islanders history to record a shutout on consecutive days, with both outings coming on the road.
Looking Ahead
The Islanders are off until Saturday, October 30th as they are back in Nashville to take on the Predators. In the meantime, the Isles returned home, back to Long Island after their game in Las Vegas to spend time with family and prepare for the second portion of their 13-game road trip. Looking forward, the Islanders will have their goaltending tandem back together as Semyon Varlamov will join Ilya Sorokin in the net after being activated from injured reserve during the break. Six in, seven to go on the road trip!
Writer for Drive4Five covering the New York Islanders.
