Ilya Sorokin scores 20th goalie goal in NHL history in NY Islanders matinee win

The NY Islanders sure woke up for today's matinee against the Nashville Predators, walking away with a 7-4 win.

Despite the Islanders playing one of their best periods of the season during the first stanza, and scoring seven goals, the talking point of the game in Ilya Sorokin scoring his first career goal (sort of).

Sorokin lights the lamp

With the final seconds ticking off the clock, Sorokin made a save, sending the puck to the corner. As Steven Stamkos corralled the puck, an attempted pass towards the blue line missed everyone, crossing the line for a goal. Sorokin was the last player to touch the puck and was credited with the Isles' seventh goal of the game.

"If I shot this goal, it's I think a different emotion, but this is just luck," said Sorokin postgame. "It was good save before this score, but playing hockey, this happens."

Sorokin joins a short list of netminders to be credited with a goal, becoming only the 17th goalie in NHL history for a total of 20 goals.

Billy Smith of the Islanders was the first goalie to be credited with a goal, doing so in 1979 in a similar fashion as Sorokin, being the last player to touch the puck rather than shoot the puck the length of the ice.

Sorokin has an incredibly close relationship with NY Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin, who is known much more for his puckhandling skills and has made several attempts at an empty net in the past. Having a little fun with close friend from Russia and cross-town rival, Sorokin said, "I knew I'd do it before Igor."

It may not be the most traditional goal, but like they say, nobody asks how, they ask how many.