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New York Islanders

Sorokin Shines, Islanders Edge Pens 5-4 in Shootout

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After getting out to a 3-1 lead and then a 4-3 lead, the New York Islanders needed a shootout to come out on top to defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins by a score of 5-4.

The Islanders are now 34-29-9 on the season with 10 games left.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Jake Guentzel gave the Pittsburgh Penguins a 1-0 at 5:52 of the first period as he buried a loose puck for his 34th of the season. Rickard Rakell and Sidney Crosby were credited with the assists.

Zach Parise tied the contest at one as he beat Pittsburgh Penguins netminder Casey DeSmith over the glove while on the power play for his 12th of the season. Mathew Barzal and Noah Dobson were credited with the assists at 9:10 of the first period.

Zach Parise scored his second of the contest to give the New York Islanders a 2-1 lead, this time shorthanded as he finished off an odd-man rush for his 13th of the season. Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Adam Pelech were credited with the assists at 12:03 of the first period.

Josh Bailey’s ninth of the season gave the New York Islanders a 3-1 lead with 37.7 seconds to play in the first period as his slapshot from a tough angle beat DeSmith over the glove. The goal was unassisted.

Danton Heinen cut the New York Islanders lead to 3-2 as he tapped in a Kasperi Kapanen pass for his 15th of th season. Kapanen and Brian Boyle were credited with the assists at 3:46 of the second period.

The Penguins evened up the score at three as Jake Guentzel beat Ilya Sorokin through a screen for his second of the contest. Chad Ruhwedel and Crosby were credited with the assists at 18:32 of the second period.

Josh Bailey scored his second of the contest at 2:49 as he picked up a loose puck in the slot, deked to his backhand, and beat DeSmith for his 10th of the season to give the Islanderes a 4-3 lead. The goal was unassisted.

Jeff Carter tied the contest at four with 5:38 to go in the third period for his 18th of the season. Guentzel and Crosby were credited with the assists.

Kyle Palmieri was credited with the game-winning goal in the shootout, the only goal of the shootout as the Islanders won 5-4.

Sorokin Steals the Show

It wasn’t the prettiest of games for Ilya Sorokin, especially early, but he came up huge in critical moments to give the Islanders a chance at two points.

Through regulation and overtime, Sorokin stopped a career-high 43 saves on a career-high 47 shots against.

In overtime, Sorokin stopped a deflection with the glove.

In the shootout, Sorokin denied Jake Guentzel and Sidney Crosby with the glove.

Ilya Sorokin was awarded the First Star of the Game.

Special Teams Specialist

New York Islanders forward Zach Parise has been considered a swiss-army knife by head coach Barry Trotz for his versatility. The 37-year old Parise not only plays alongside Mathew Barzal but is on the power play and the penalty kill.

On Tuesday night, Parise came through on both special teams as he tied the contest at one in the first period while the Islanders were on a short power play after some four-on-four play.

And then on the penalty kill, Parise finished off a shorthanded odd-man rush for his second of the game.

Tuesday night was the first time in Zach Parise’s career that he scored both on the power play and the penalty kill in the same game.

Bailey Nets a Pair

New York Islanders forward Josh Bailey has not lit the lamp at a high rate this season but found the back of the net twice against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

His first goal showcased a laser of a slap shot to the top-right of the Penguins net. His second of the contest showcased some silky hands as he deked to the backhand before roofing the puck for his 10th of the season.

Own Zone Sloppiness

On Thursday night, the New York Islanders struggled mightily in their own zone against the Pittsburgh Penguins. All three goals against came due to breakdowns.

The first goal, Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech failed to corral a loose puck in the low slot. On the second goal, Andy Greene was the victim as the Penguins easily got around him before Dante Heinen buried the back-door pass.

After being trapped in their own zone for over a minute, the Islanders gave up the tying goal late in the second period as Zdeno Chara could not stay with Jake Guentzel.

The fourth goal against came on an in-tight deflection by Jeff Carter, as the Islanders failed to box out the Penguins in the low slot. There were two Penguins in the area, none who were guarded closely.

Wahlstrom Benched

Tuesday morning, the talk at head coach media availability was about Oliver Wahlstrom and his development. He had struggled mightily Saturday night in the 6-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues, and it seemed that he would be a healthy scratch for Tuesday’s contest.

Trotz told us that the player he wanted to insert into the lineup got sick, all signs pointing to Kieffer Bellows in for Wahlstrom.

But Wahlstrom was in the lineup yet did not take a shift in the third period.

He ended his night with 8:27 minutes played, a -1, with 2 PIM and a giveaway. Following the game, Trotz said he just needs to play better.

WHAT’S NEXT: The New York Islanders are in Pittsburgh to take on the Penguins at 7 PM ET.

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