Islanders 3 (EN), Blues 1: Returning home for Sorokin’s 100th victory

1 day ago  /  Lighthouse Hockey

He happy, we happy. | Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images


Ilya Sorokin hits a milestone and the Islanders actually preserve a lead. Ilya Sorokin notched his 100th regular season NHL victory and the Islanders got a much-needed two points as they returned home from a long road trip to knock off the Blues, 3-1.
Per usual, the Islanders did it the hard way, allowing the Blues to threaten their way back into the game after the Isles had the edge and a 2-0 lead heading into the third period. At multiple points, it looked like we might get the same script we’ve seen so many times this season, but Sorokin and the Blues’ own finishing struggles conspired to keep the Isles from blowing this lead. I wouldn’t say they exactly “protected” the lead, but they did preserve it.
Kyle Palmieri created breathing room with an empty net goal, his second tally of the game and team-leading ninth of the season.
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The first period played out like two middling teams that are desperate for some wins and a little afraid to shoot themselves in the foot. Not a lot of chances or activity, thought Ilya Sorokin had a pretty good stop on Robert Thomas alone in front, and an Islanders 2-on-1 with Max Tsyplakov and Kyle Palmieir fizzled with less than it initially promised.
But the Islanders’ patient approach in the neutral zone paid off late in the period when P-O Joseph, who retains that stench of Penguin, forced a bank pass from his own zone that Brock Nelson easily intercepted, leading to a 3-on-2. Nelson fed Palmieri, who walked down the slot and ripped one inside the left post past Jordan Binnington.


Brock Nelson assists Kyle Palmieri for the opening goal! pic.twitter.com/uwX6hXt5C3— Islanders Videos (@SNY_Islanders) November 24, 2024




With just over a minute left in the period, the Islanders had broken the seal and headed to the first intermission with a 1-0 lead.
The second period played out similarly — another 12-8 shot advantage for the Isles, weighted by quite a few Scott Mayfield shot blocks. Sorokin again stopped the Blues’ best chance when he robbed Oskar Sundqvist point blank after a pass came right across the top of the crease.
And again, the Islanders got a late goal, this time on the power play(!). It was really nice work by Tsyplakov behind the net, where he drew the Blues defense to leave their station out of impatience, and found an on-his-knees Nelson in a golden position. Nelson made no doubt with the one-timer upstairs, which made it 2-0 with 4:05 remaining in the second.


Brock Nelson sets up in front and tallies Tsyplakov's dish from his knees on the power play!#Isles pic.twitter.com/lcQUkHWpLF— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) November 24, 2024




Given the Blues’ fragility, one might think that was a pretty opportune lead and situation. But given the Islanders’ fragility, one would be oblivious to think that way.
And sure enough, the third period opened with an early penalty by Isaiah George, and the Islanders penalty kill played to script right away. Just 10 seconds into the power play, and 45 seconds into the period, the Blues got on the board with an isolation down low as Soctt Mayfield left the crease to unsuccessfully attempt a pass block, leaving Jake Neighbors alone on the doorstep to put it upstairs past Sorokin.
That goal in the first minute gave the Blues life — and probably accentuated Islanders anxieties (it certainly did for fans), and the next 10 minutes were an absolute terror.
With 8:27 left, it looked like the Islanders might have found a pressure relief valve, when Noah Dobson sent a shot in from the point into a virtually unoccupied net. But Palmieri had entered the crease, occupying territory Binnington tried to shift to, causing Palmieri to fall on him, still in the crease. That left Binnington no ability to play the point shot, and a Blues coach’s challenge was accepted after the fastest goalie interference review I’ve ever seen.
Play was a little more even after that. With three minutes remaining, the Isles had another golden chance for an insurance goal when a side-shovel caromed off the post to Anders Lee, who backhanded high from the top of the crease only to be robbed by Binnington.
In the final minutes, there were a few hairy moments, including a Tsyplakov icing just short of the red line that allowed the Blues to pull the goalie and get their top line out. There was also a great check by Lee that very nearly led to a key clear, only to have the Blues barely keep it in and amp the anxiety up to 11.
But the Blues ultimately committed a self-inflicted clear, and then finally Nelson forced a turnover at the Blues blueline that set up a Palmieri empty netter.
Against all expectations, the Islanders did not blow it, and they held on to a third-period lead for a win. Two points. In regulation.
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