Coming off one of the most lopsided wins in franchise history, the New York Islanders look to carry the momentum into a seven-game road trip that begins with Thursday’s matchup with the Nashville Predators.
New York’s 9-0 rout of the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday matched the largest margin of victory in franchise history and marked the Islanders’ highest-scoring game since the 2010-11 season. Anthony Duclair led the way with five points, including a natural hat trick spanning the first and second periods.
Despite the offensive explosion, goaltender Ilya Sorokin’s return to the ice was perhaps Tuesday’s biggest story. Sorokin missed seven games due to a lower-body injury but looked in prime form against the Devils, recording 44 saves for his team-record 26th career shutout.
“(Sorokin is) just so solid. … Late in the game, New Jersey obviously trying to break the shutout, (but) he doesn’t take a second off, that guy,” Islanders forward Mathew Barzal said. “Honestly, he works as hard as anybody I’ve ever seen. Day in, day out, off-days, practice, whatever it is. He’s the last guy at the rink. He’s inspiring.”
A healthy Sorokin could be a difference maker for New York within the crowded Eastern Conference standings. In the short term, however, the Islanders may deploy backup goalie David Rittich against Nashville if the plan is to ease Sorokin back into action.
Both goaltenders figure to see ice time during a grueling trip that will see New York play seven games in 14 days. The Islanders have posted a respectable 10-7-2 road record this season, while the Predators are a modest 10-9-2 in Nashville.
As the Islanders hit the road, the Predators will be playing on home ice for the first time since Dec. 21. The Predators were 4-3-0 on the road, though the trip ended with the thud of a 6-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday.
The Predators allowed a season-high 43 shots, but trailed just 1-0 with four minutes left in the second period. Connor McDavid then scored on a penalty shot to kick off a string of three Oilers goals before the second intermission, essentially ending Nashville’s chances.
“We kind of gift-wrapped them three goals there. …. We knew we had (to do) better. Unfortunately, we made some poor decisions and paid the price,” Predators coach Andrew Brunette said.
Juuse Saros held his own against Edmonton’s pressure, stopping 37 of 43 shots. The workhorse goalie will likely be between the pipes again for Nashville on Thursday.
Ryan O’Reilly leads the Predators with 36 points (12 goals, 24 assists). Steven Stamkos leads the team with 18 goals and Luke Evangelista ranks first with 25 assists.
Barzal leads the Islanders in assists (24) and points (35). Bo Horvat leads New York with 21 goals, and will join the team on the road trip after missing two games due to a lower-body injury.
Jonathan Marchessault has missed Nashville’s last nine games due to a lower-body injury, and it remains unclear when the forward will be able to play.
The Predators have won the last six home matchups against the Islanders and are 11-2-0 in their last 13 games against them.
