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New York Islanders

Islanders Forward Brock Nelson and Netminder Ilya Sorokin Lead Charge in Week 3

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1 year ago

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New York Islanders

The New York Islanders had a strong week on their second road trip of the season, as they knocked off the Chicago Blackhawks (3-1) and St. Louis Blues (5-2) before being shutout 3-0 by the Detroit Red Wings.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the best performers in what was a solid week for the New York Islanders.

Stats of the Week

The New York Islanders (2-1-0) outscored their opponents 8-7 on the week, allowing the first goal in two of three contests.

They outshot their opponents 87-82, went two-for-nine on the power play, and killed off nine of 12 power-play chances against.

Their empty-net goal against the St. Louis Blues was their fifth empty-net goal of the season, as they have yet to miss an empty-net opportunity this season.

Brock Stay Hot

After finally breaking through in the goal column, New York Islanders forward Brock Nelson stayed hot early in the week. He entered the week with three goals on the season and pushed that number to five. After scoring the eventual game-winning goal against the Chicago Blackhawks to give the Islanders a 2-0 lead, followed by a dagger to give the Islanders a 2-1 lead against the St. Louis Blues, that extended his goal streak to four games.

With the shutout loss to Detroit, Nelson’s goal streak came to an end.

Brock Nelson shot the puck 10 times through the three games and looked more like the player who scored 37 goals a season ago.

Peak Performances for Ilya Sorokin

Of the three games played this week, New York Islanders netminder Ilya Sorokin saw action in all three. He started the first two games of the trip, turning aside 53 of 56 shots that came his way. He earned a 1.50 GAA with a .946 SV%, and stopped 13 of 14 high-danger chances that came his way.

In both games, it was his strong play in the first period that allowed the Islanders to find their game and win hockey games.

His best save of the week came in the first period against the St. Louis Blues as he robbed Jake Neighbours at the back post.

Running Out Of Words: Ilya Sorokin Makes INCREDIBLE Save in First Period

Sorokin did make an appearance in the loss to the Detroit Red Wings, as Semyon Varlamov was removed in the second period due to concussion spotters after a collision with Lucas Raymond.

He allowed a goal on two shots, the goal coming on a Pius Suter shorthanded breakaway.

Pageau Don’t You Know

This season, Jean-Gabriel Pageau had done everything for the New York Islanders. He’s been the man in the middle of the “3-P” line, a line that has not been on the ice for a goal against yet this season. He’s played strong defensively, also winning the majority of his defensive draws.

He’s been a staple on the penalty kill, a kill that sits a tad over 90 percent.

After five assists through the Islanders’ first 10 games, he got his first goal of the season in the waning seconds of the third period in St. Louis. It was, in fact, an empty netter, but a goal is a goal.

Gordie Howe Game for Anders Lee

New York Islanders captain Anders Lee had himself a second period against St. Louis.

First, he notched the primary assist on Brock Nelson’s go-ahead goal at 5:06 of the period. Then he fights Niko Mikkola, which he wins at 12:45.

Then at 10:18 of the period, he scores his sixth of the season to complete the Gordie Howe hat trick

Running into Old Friends

With the New York Islanders in the Gateway to the West, they have a chance to reconnect with two former teammates in Nick Leddy and Thomas Greiss.

Both were integral parts in the New York Islanders turning things around as a franchise, as Nick Leddy led on the backend, while Thomas Greiss was a stable presence in goal, something that had been missing from the organization.

EXCLUSIVE: The Roles Nick Leddy & Thomas Greiss Played for Islanders

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