Leddy, Sorokin Lead New York Islanders to Crucial Overtime Win Over Philadelphia

The Puck went into the back of the net the only way it seemed it would on Sunday Night for the New York Islanders or Philadelphia Flyers.

Nick Leddy scored the game-winning goal 2:23 into overtime by putting the puck into the net off the stick of Travis Sanheim to lead the New York Islanders to a 1-0 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. The critical win helped snap a two-game skid by the Islanders and secured a well-earned victory for starter Ilya Sorokin, who kept the Islanders in Sunday’s game for most of the night.

“Did we play our best? I don’t think we did, but at the end of the day we got the two points,” Leddy said. “A win is a win.”

It was the steady play of Sorokin who made up for a lackluster effort from the Islanders through the first two periods against Philadelphia. The Islanders were outshot 23-13 through the first 40 minutes, which included a second period where Sorokin had to make 15 saves alone.

“We don’t win that hockey game if he doesn’t have that first period that he did,” head coach Barry Trotz said. “We were slow out of the gate. We weren’t sharp. We weren’t committed to the battle and you need your goaltender to sometimes steal you a game. I thought he stole it in the first for us. Gave us a chance to sort of right the ship.”

"We don't win that hockey game if he [Sorokin] doesn't have that first period that he did."

Trotz ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/NXE0rLlRUB

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) April 19, 2021

Sorokin finished the night with 30 saves and recorded his third shutout of the season. He is now tied with Alex Nedeljkovic for most shutouts among rookie goaltenders this season.

“He was huge,” Ryan Pulock said. “He made some really good saves and he was sharp. He gave us a chance.”

Leddy’s game-winner came just after he jumped onto the ice. Jean-Gabriel Pageau found him on the far side of the ice near the wall.

The New York Islanders defenseman drove to the net and went to pass the puck off to Jordan Eberle, who he had on his wing. The pass hit off Sanheim’s stick and into the net for the game’s only goal. It snapped a 159:29 goal drought for New York.

“It was more of a fortuitous bounce than anything,” Leddy said. “I was just trying to get over to Ebs. I heard him yelling for it and just tried to get it over to him as quick as possible. It ended up a nice lucky bounce through Elliott’s legs.”

The GAME WINNER for the @NYIslanders.#Isles pic.twitter.com/0plvDKXf1H

— NHL on NBC Sports (@NHLonNBCSports) April 19, 2021

The Islanders have scored two goals during their three-game road trip this week.

The New York Islanders moved back into second place in the East Division with the win. They are a point ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins and are now two points back of the first-place Washington Capitals.

Braydon Coburn made his New York Islanders debut on Sunday night against a team he played nine years for. Coburn played 12:53 and took the spot of Noah Dobson, who served as a healthy scratch.