NY Islanders match franchise mark for largest shutout win in drubbing of Devils

If the New York Islanders were looking for a statement win, they didn’t just make one — they screamed it at the top of their lungs during an ESPN national broadcast.

Anthony Duclair turned Tuesday night into a personal highlight reel, erupting for a hat trick and five-point night as the Islanders absolutely demolished the New Jersey Devils 9-0 at UBS Arena. Yes, nine. Zero. Against a division rival. In January. It was one of those nights where the scoreboard felt surreal the longer the game went on.

Duclair, back in the lineup after being scratched the previous two games, wasted no time making his presence felt. He scored three straight goals spanning from early in the first period into the second, torching New Jersey’s coverage and reminding everyone exactly why the Islanders believed he could be a difference-maker. It was his first hat trick since 2019, and somehow, it still felt like he left a few goals out there.

As wild as the offense was, the night belonged just as much to Ilya Sorokin. Returning from a nagging lower-body injury that kept him out since Dec. 19, Sorokin looked like he never left. He turned aside all 45 shots he faced, calmly stacking save after save while becoming the Islanders’ all-time leader in career shutouts with his 26th. If there were any questions about rust, they were answered about five minutes in.

The rout started early when Mathew Barzal scored just over a minute into the game, with rookie phenom Matthew Schaefer picking up the assist despite still battling illness. Schaefer has now found the scoresheet in four straight games, because of course he has.

The goals kept coming. Simon Holmstrom. Casey Cizikas. Tony DeAngelo. Cal Ritchie. By the third period, UBS Arena was buzzing less from anticipation and more from disbelief.

For an Islanders team that’s been grinding for goals lately, this felt like a dam breaking. Two straight wins. Five in their last seven. And a reminder to the rest of the Metro that when this group gets rolling, they can be among the best in the Eastern Conference.