Sorokin really assists Islanders in pivotal victory

PITTSBURGH — It wasn’t until the tail end of Thursday’s game that the Islanders started to need Ilya Sorokin, because it wasn’t until the tail end that it looked like the Islanders had any chance of winning this game.

It has almost become a matter of routine that Sorokin can do whatever is required of him in net, but this overtime performance requires a step back.

Not only did Sorokin come up with two massive saves during three-on-three play, stopping a Jeff Petry wrister then a Marcus Pettersson slap shot, both of which looked destined for the back of the net. He then channeled Billy Smith — to hear Butch Goring’s words on the MSG broadcast — with a poke check on Rickard Rakell that leaked the puck up along the right boards, springing Brock Nelson on a breakaway.

Seconds later, the game was over, 4-3 to the Islanders, as Nelson scored.

The result was season sweep of the Penguins for the first time ever. The first time going without a loss to Pittsburgh since 1986-87. And most importantly, the Islanders stayed in the top wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference as a result, though Pittsburgh still has three games in hand and a twopoint deficit to work with.

“I watch the scoreboard and see five minutes to play, so we have a chance,” Sorokin said. “Have a lucky moment when they don’t score into the empty net [Jeff Carter’s chance getting called back because of a high stick] and then score [another] goal.”

Sorokin finished the game with 33 saves and his first career assist.

“We should [give him the puck],” Brock Nelson said. “That was huge. He bailed me out with the stick in the D-zone.”

“He finds ways to get it done,” Casey Cizikas said. “He does it every single night he’s in the net. Him and [Semyon Varlamov], they’re giving us chances every single night. That’s the biggest thing. The belief in ourselves is huge.”

And what of Sorokin’s thoughts on his first career assist coming in such fashion?

“We win,” he said. “I feel good.”

Jean-Gabriel Pageau Cal Clutterbuck

and both skated with the team Thursday

morning, but neither played against the Penguins. Coach Lane Lambert described both players as dayto-day.

After being effectively benched in the third period on Tuesday, Pierre Engvall played just two shifts apiece in the second and third periods Thursday.

“Pierre, he’s new, he’s coming in and he’s gonna be a big part of our hockey team,” Lambert said. “I wouldn’t look too deeply into it.”