Islanders vs. Flyers Winners-Losers: Ilya Sorokin absolutely steals game

Six of the last eight games between the New York Islanders and Philadelphia Flyers have gone to overtime. So you knew this one was designed to go the extra frame. The only debate was how they’d get there.

Brian Elliott and Ilya Sorokin chose a goalie dual. Both pitched regulation shutouts. The only goal to go in was a deflection off a Flyers stick. So, while Elliot won’t be credited with a shutout, he was excellent in nets for Philadelphia.

Ilya Sorokin on the other hand will be credited with a shutout.

The Islander’s netminder was exceptional, excellent, incredible tonight in net. During the second period alone he stopped all 15 shots he faced including four shots on a Flyers power play.

This was a statement game from Sorokin. Not only did he pick up his third shutout, but he did it all on his own with no help from the team in front of him. His rebound control was excellent and his positioning was perfect. There is no doubt, Ilya Sorokin has figured out the NHL.

New York Islanders winners and losers from yet another OT win vs Flyers

Winners

Ilya Sorokin (30 saves, 1.000SV%, 2.17GS): He was perfect tonight. Absolutely perfect. I originally had him down as the first and second star of the game, that’s how important he was to today’s win.

For perhaps the fourth night, the Isles played a flat game. If not for Sorokin they probably lose this game (although Varlamov has been excellent this year too).

Nick Leddy (1G, 1.69GS): Nick Leddy will be credited with the game-winner even though it went off Sanheim’s stick. Not that he cares of course.

Scott Mayfield (1.22GS): Scott Mayfield has been taking a lot of flak recently for his play and rightfully so. Today, Mayfield bucked the trend.

With four blocks and a +0.43 xGF differential, Mayfield was one of the better players for the Islanders today. Hopefully, he keeps this up.

HM: Leo Komarov had an excellent game today. He was great in his own end and was his usual disruptive self. He was a positive addition to the lineup today.

Losers

Anthony Beauvillier (N/A): Look at Anthony Beauvillier‘s stat sheet for todya’s game. Go ahead, I’ll wait. Did you see it? Zeros it’s full of zeros. Number 18 did little out there for the Islanders in what is a return to his anonymous play. Beau, like most of the team, has to find a way to turn things around and quickly.

Beau had an Isles low -0.87 game score today. Only Ivan Provorov was worse for both teams.

Oliver Wahlstrom (1 SOG, 1 Block, 1TKA): The eye test alone will tell you Oliver Wahlstrom didn’t have a great game. He wasn’t out there much, but when he was he wasn’t effective on the puck

Andy Greene (-0.47GS): I had a hard time picking a third loser. Most of the team deserves to be on the loser side. They let Sorokin hang to dry out there and thankfully he was up to the task.

I settled on Andy Greene because he had the third-lowest game score for the isles today at -0.47. The only other players worse were Beau (-0.87), and Wahlstrom (-0.61).