Islanders Ilya Sorokin pulls off save of the year against New York Rangers

You've heard "down and out" in your time as a New York Islanders fan, or even as an NHL fan. But apparently, that doesn't apply to Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin. Because even being down doesn't necessarily mean he's "out".

Taking on the New York Rangers for only the third time in his career, Ilya Sorokin was out to prove something to the Rangers and his friend between the pipes for the Rangers; Igor Shesterkin. And he did so early in the game.

New York Islanders Ilya Sorokin makes save of the year

After Anders Lee and Brock Nelson collided in the O-Zone, the Rangers jumped up the ice to take advantage of the miscue. Artemi Panarin, who finds himself wide open on the left side, receives a great cross-ice pass to snap a one-timer on net.

Sorokin, who's falling to the ice while trying to follow that cross-ice pass to Panarin, is very much down and out. Guaranteed goal. Right? Not so fast. As Sorokin is falling backward he still somehow tracks Panarin's shot and gets a paddle on the puck. Watch. It's absolutely insane.

That's the save of the year. I don't care what else happened before this save or what will happen after it. This stop is absolutely mind-blowing.

It's been a solid year for Ilya Sorokin. With 39 games played, he's at 20-12-7 and with six shutouts. In those 39 games, Sorokin is averaging a 2.33GAA and 0.925SV%. The Islanders might not be playing well as a team but Ilya Sorokin sure as hell is.

it's been clear for a while now that Sorokin is the team's number one goalie but my word he's hitting a whole new level of brilliance game after game.

I'm sure after the game Ilya Sorokin will see his buddy Igor Shesterkin and ask him how he liked that save.