Ilya Sorokin came up huge for the New York Islanders on Sunday, delivering exactly what his struggling team needed – a perfect game between the pipes.
The star goalie stopped all 26 shots he faced, completely shutting down a red-hot Columbus Blue Jackets team that had won four straight games.
It couldn’t have come at a better time. The Islanders were reeling from back-to-back losses, including an ugly 7-3 beating from the Montreal Canadiens just a day earlier.
But Sorokin didn’t just get the win – he made history.
This was his seventh shutout of the 2025-26 season, making him the first goalie in the Islanders’ 50-plus year history to record seven shutouts in two different seasons.
That’s pretty remarkable when you think about all the legendary goalies who’ve worn an Islanders jersey over the years.
The win was crucial for New York’s playoff hopes. They’re battling in a packed Eastern Conference where every point matters, and Sorokin’s stellar play has been keeping them in the hunt all season.
He’s been their backbone, often making the difference between winning and losing on nights when the offense isn’t clicking.
And on Sunday, with his team desperate for a bounce-back victory, Sorokin didn’t just show up – he made sure the Blue Jackets didn’t even sniff the back of the net.
