Islanders move back into playoff position behind Ilya Sorokin shutout performance

Ilya Sorokin made 26 saves for his NHL-leading seventh shutout of the season, and the New York Islanders defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 1-0 on Sunday night to move back into a playoff position.

Bo Horvat scored the game’s only goal 1:25 into the first period, taking a pass from Anders Lee and beating Jet Greaves with a snap shot on the Islanders’ first shot of the game. It was the earliest goal scored in a 1-0 win in franchise history. The Islanders (85 points) snapped a two-game skid and moved into the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, tied with Columbus. The Blue Jackets hold third place in the Metropolitan Division with one game in hand.

Sorokin rebounded after allowing six goals in a loss at Montreal on Saturday, recording the 29th shutout of his career to extend his franchise record. He also tied his single-season high set in 2021-22. “The last minute was tough, and the last five minutes were tough,” Sorokin said. “But when the game was finished, it was a big breath after.”

Greaves made 21 saves for Columbus, which saw its four-game winning streak and 12-game point streak end. Lee appeared to give New York a 2-0 lead with 7:54 remaining in the third period, but the goal was overturned after a coach’s challenge for goaltender interference.

“A disallowed goal, that’s a stinger,” Horvat said. “But we never stopped fighting. Every line was going and contributing in some type of way. Sorokin was phenomenal again.”

The Blue Jackets pulled Greaves for an extra attacker with just over two minutes remaining, but Sorokin made 13 saves in the third period to secure the win.

The Islanders will look to build off the win when the host the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night.