Ilya Sorokin's 39 saves not enough as Islanders fall to Panthers in overtime
Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin clears the puck out of the net after Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov scored in the second period of an NHL hockey game at UBS Arena on Tuesday, April 19, 2022. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
In the Islanders’ first game since being eliminated from playoff contention, they nearly snapped the Eastern Conference-leading Panthers’ lengthy winning streak.
But Aleksander Barkov completed his hat trick 20 seconds into overtime after tying the game at 16:02 of the third period and the Panthers won their 11th straight, 3-2, on Tuesday night at UBS Arena. The game followed an emotional pregame ceremony for Islanders’ Hall of Famer Mike Bossy, who passed away Friday at 65. Sunday’s 4-2 loss in Toronto sealed the Islanders’ inevitable elimination.
Ilya Sorokin made 39 saves in his fifth straight start for the Islanders (35-31-10). Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 24 shots for the Panthers (55-15-6).
The Islanders had lost their first two games to the potent Panthers, both in Florida on their season-opening, 13-game road trip, by a combined 11-2.
Tuesday’s strong effort may not have mattered to the Islanders in the standings. But coach Barry Trotz said it still mattered.
“I think all the games remaining are important,” coach Barry Trotz said. “Right now, to a lot of people, it doesn’t matter. It does matter. This is the Islanders’ franchise. We want to win the Stanley Cup. We’re all about trying to get better. They are important even though it’s not going to get us in the playoffs."
Jean-Gabriel Pageau’s power-play goal at 1:01 of the third period – six seconds after defenseman Mackenzie Weegar was called for delay of game – gave the Islanders a 2-1 lead.
Defenseman Sebastian Aho had given the Islanders a 1-0 lead at 4:56 of the second period on a delayed call against the Panthers.
Notes & quotes: Forward Aatu Raty was assigned to the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport after completing his season in Finland’s SM-liiga. Bridgeport has two games remaining and must win both to secure a playoff berth. Raty, selected 52nd overall in 2021 after initially being projected as a first-round pick, is eligible for the AHL postseason. “He’s an important prospect for us because there’s not a lot of young guys in terms of the high-end ability,” Trotz said. “There’s some good prospects, but in different positions. Really, that high-end type of guy, he seems to be the one name.” ... Semyon Varlamov backed up Sorokin after missing the previous two games with a stomach illness … Otto Koivula was brought up from Bridgeport on emergency call but was a healthy scratch.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
