The New York Islanders (25-21-7) grinded out a 2-1 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday night. The Islanders have won six straight home games and returned to the win column after snapping their seven-game winning streak versus Florida.
Vegas limped into Tuesday night's contest at UBS Arena, as they've gone 2-5-3 in their last ten, turning to Ilya Samsonov to tend the goal. The Islanders' lineup was unchanged from their last game at the Florida Panthers, except for swapping goalie Jakub Skarek for Ilya Sorokin.
#Isles lines vs. #VegasBorn:
— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) February 5, 2025
Lee-Horvat-Duclair
Tsyplakov-Nelson-Palmieri
Cizikas-Pageau-Holmstrom
Engvall-MacLean-Gatcomb
Romanov-DeAngelo
Pelech-Perunovich
Cholowski-Boqvist
Sorokin
Skarek
The first period was slow and sluggish, despite five minutes without a whistle. That's not a terrible result for a team playing without five regulars. The Islanders finally generated a big chance with 90 seconds to go in the first when Adam Pelech sprung Bo Horvat on a partial breakaway.
The three-time 30-goal scorer made no mistake, dropping the puck into Samsonov's five-hole and giving the Islanders a 1-0 advantage which they took into the first intermission. The goal was Horvat's sixth in his last ten games. Max Tysplakov was also credited with an assist on the play, extending his point streak to four games
BOOOOOOOO HOOOOORRRRRVVVAATTTTTT #LGI | @Ford pic.twitter.com/BmKWMfy9Av
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) February 5, 2025
Vegas upped their intensity level in the second period, outshooting the Isles 8-0 before the Islanders registered a shot with about 12 minutes to go. An active Islanders powerplay managed to wrestle momentum away from Vegas a little bit, but Vegas still dominated the second-period shot total, 15-4. The Islanders had only managed eight shots through the first two periods. But most importantly, Sorokin kept the attackers at bay and the second period ended with the Islanders still up 1-0
As the third period began, the Golden Knights kept the pressure on, but the Islanders still managed some chances in counter-attack. Two minutes into the period, Adam Boqvist sent a cross-crease pass to JG Pageau. Pageau got a shot off, but Samsonov robbed him with his blocker to keep the lead at one.
Even though the Isles led, Vegas' pressure was immense. It felt like the Islanders would break eventually unless they scored. Vegas began pressing hard with 13 minutes to go, and they finally broke through when Brandon Saad buried a big Sorokin rebound to even the game at one. It was Saad's first goal as a member of the Vegas Golden Knights.
Atta boy, Saader!! 🥲 pic.twitter.com/0850PdznZT
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) February 5, 2025
With another goal necessary, the Islanders struggled to find their offensive footing. They sorely missed star forward Mat Barzal's offensive impact. But they managed to get another. At 9:57, Brock Nelson broke his stick, returned to the bench for a new one, muscled back into the slot and redirected an Alex Romanov point shot to restore the Islanders' 2-1 lead. Tony DeAngelo was credited with the secondary assist on the play, he has points in three straight games.
PUCKS. ON. NET.@Ford | #LGI pic.twitter.com/QjHd6OR9oM
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) February 5, 2025
Needing another goal soon, Vegas composed themselves and put the pressure back on New York. As the clock bled inside five minutes, VGK dominated puck possession. Jack Eichel had a high slot chance with three minutes that Sorokin got just enough of to keep the lead intact. It was one of several ten-bell saves Sorokin made in the game's closing moments
The Islanders iced the puck with 70 seconds to go, and Vegas pulled Samsonov for an extra attacker. The Islanders looked to avoid giving up consecutive goals in six-on-five situations (after surrendering one versus Tampa).
Despite Simon Holmstrom breaking a stick with 60 seconds left, the Islanders held on through the final minute of in-game action to win 2-1. For the Islanders, it was their sixth consecutive victory at home. Ultimately, Sorokin won the battle of the Ilyas by stopping 34 of the 35 shots he faced. For earning his seventh-straight win, Sorokin was awarded the game's first star.
The New York Islanders will return to action on Friday, Feb 7 at the Winnipeg Jets. The puck will drop at 8 pm. The Islanders will not play at UBS Arena until after the Four-Nation Face-off.