ELMONT, NY — New York Islanders netminder Ilya Sorokin recorded his first shutout of the season on Saturday night after he turned aside all 29 shots the Buffalo Sabres sent his way in a 3-0 win.
Related: Sorokin, Holmstrom Lead Islanders To 3-0 Shutout Win Over Sabres
While each save was important, especially with the way the Islanders have blown leads, there was one save that proved to be the turning point of the game.
After goals by Anders Lee and Simon Holmstrom in the second period, the Islanders took a 2-0 lead into the third period.
Early in the third, the Islanders had the opportunity to build on that lead, when Sabrs forward Alex Tuch tripped Kyle Palmieri just 56 seconds into the final frame.
Right off an offensive zone draw, the Islanders got caught, leading to a 2-on-1 shorthanded chance for Buffalo.
With Brock Nelson, a forward, the lone Islanders player back, Cody McLeod sent a sauce pass to Dylan Cozens for a one-time finish.
Except thjere was only one problem for Buffalo and that was Sorokin, who read the play like a children’s book.
He slid over in the splits and tracked the shot, blockering it away:
“It’s just a moment reaction,” Sorokin said postgame. “I just tried to play fast, change my position because it was a good, fast play but it was a long pass. 50 percent luck.
“I hope it gave our team energy.”
Sorokin, that it did.
“I thought that was the key to the game,” Islanders head coach Patrick Roy said about Sorokin’s save. “That save was big for us. It brough us a lot of energy, set the tone for the third period and I thought from there, we were really solid.
“That’s what plays like this do for your team. I thought that save gave a lot of life to our club, seeing the guys jumping on the bench. That save was huge for us.”
The Islanders held a third period for the 15th time in 25 games and the 19th time in 25 games that they were tied or leading in the third period.
But, when holding a lead in the third period, the Islanders were 6-4-4 prior to Saturday and 6-7-5 when being tied or holding a lead.
Just a day prior, the Islanders blew a 4-2 third-period lead to the Washington Capitals before falling 5-4 in overtime, a movie that’s become too common this season and the biggest reason why the team isn’t safe in a playoff spot.
Related: Islanders Patrick Roy Rips Power Play After Overtime Loss To Capitals: ‘It Was Awful’
So, Sorokin bailing out the Islanders to keep them up a goal, rather than give Buffalo a major momentum boost, with a shorthanded tally, was beyond critical to getting the winning result.
“That’s a big point of the game,”Ryan Pulock said. “I mean, we’re on the power play, and that happens. That’s a key moment in the game. Heck of a save by [Sorokin], and that allowed us to stay in it and find another gear after that.”
Islanders captian Anders Lee echoed Pulock’s sentiments.
“It was great. It’s tough because on those draws, we’re trying to jump and that’s just the way it goes,” Lee said. “Sometimes when the defense cheats…and he cheats and they got a play out of it so it’s a good play by them but even better by Sorokin.”
Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff cited that Sorokin save as a costly missed opportunity.
“I thought, again, we missed the net quite often. That didn’t allow a second opportunity. I think the one that probably hurt us the most was the late 2-on-1.” (H/t Lance Lysowski).
It’s hard to blame the Islanders’ netminders for what has transpired this season. But it’s also fair to say that in the big moments, especially in the third period, the Islanders have struggled to get that game-saving save.
But, on Saturday night, they got it and secured a huge win to close out November.
