Islanders Spoil Sorokin Special, Lose to Sabres 3-2 (OT)

BUFFALO, NY — Backed by elite goaltending from Ilya Sorokin, the New York Islanders head home with a point, but ultimately blew another lead late in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Buffalo Sabres.

The Islanders are now 23-19-5 on the season.

LINES

Josh Bailey-Mathew Barzal-Cal Clutterbuck
Anders Lee-Brock Nelson-Anthony Beauvillier
Zach Parise-Jean-Gabriel Pageau-Simon Holmstrom
Matt Martin-Casey Cizikas-Cal Clutterbuck (left in second with upper-body injury)

Dennis Cholowski-Ryan Pulock
Alexander Romanov-Scott Mayfield
Sebastian Aho-Noah Dobson

Ilya Sorokin
Semyon Varlamov

GOALS

Brock Nelson scored his 16th of the season at 7:19 of the first period as he tapped home a strong feed from Anthony Beauvillier. Josh Bailey was credited with the secondary assist.

Alex Tuch tied the contest at one at 8:26 of the second period as he tapped home a loose puck for his 22nd of the season. Rasmus Dahlen and Jeff Skinner were credited with the assists.

Matt Martin scored his fifth goal of the season at 18:30 of the second, as he finished off a Casey Cizikas pass.

Victor Olofsson tied the game at two as he sniped Sorokin for his 19th goal of the season at 9:32 of the third period. Casey Mittelstadt was credited with the lone assist.

Dylan Cozens scored the overtime winner just 12 seconds into the overtime frame as Dahlin sprung him on a breakaway, and that was that.

Sorokin Stands on His Head

As we have said time and time again, New York Islanders netminder Ilya Sorokin stood on his head and was the clear-cut no. one start of the contest in Buffalo. He faced 20 shots in the first period, eight being high-danger shots.

#NHLAllStarVote pic.twitter.com/X5jwnln00y

— Isles on MSGSN (@IslesMSGN) January 20, 2023

Sorokin ended his night with 42 saves on 45 shots, stopping 12 of 14 high-danger chances. Per NaturalStatrick.com, Sorokin had a 4.51 expected goals against.

“He played really, really well,” Islanders head coach Lane Lambert said. “Obviously kept us in the game when he needed to.”

Nelson Snaps Goal Drought

It was just a matter of time before New York Islanders forward Brock Nelson found the back. The Islanders leading scorer had gone 14 games without a goal, and the Islanders really needed his offense back.

Despite being dominated in the first period against the Buffalo Sabres, Nelson was in the right place at the right time and tapped home a strong feed from Anthony Beauvillier.

Brock Nelson ends the drought on a pretty passing play with Beauvillier! pic.twitter.com/L9xf11vbhu

— Isles on MSGSN (@IslesMSGN) January 20, 2023

“Nice to capitalize,” Nelson said. “Great play by Beauvillier to find me backside, so it’s nice to get one.”

“You’d like it to be in a win, and I’d feel better, but just try and continue to build your game.”

Another Lead Blown

The New York Islanders scored first for a fifth-straight game, but for the fourth time over that span, they have blown the lead.

To take that step further, three of the four leads have been blown in the third period.

The Islanders did take this one to overtime but allowed an unreal goal.

We are freaking out right now#LetsGoBuffalo pic.twitter.com/MZtZ0ffR2z

— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) January 20, 2023