ELMONT, NY — Ilya Sorokin made 41 saves and the New York Islanders shut out the New York Rangers 3-0 at UBS Arena on Wednesday.
The shutout was Sorokin’s first of the season and 11th in the NHL. He tied the Islanders’ record with seven last season.
“He was outstanding,” Islanders coach Lane Lambert said. “He’s gained confidence, he’s gained so much since he’s been here, period.”
Kyle Palmieri scored his first two goals of the season, and Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Adam Pelech each had two assists for the Islanders (3-4-0), which ended a three-game losing streak.
“It was just our overall level of engagement,” Lambert said. “I thought we played better, so I’m happy they were rewarded tonight. They deserve it.”
Video: NYR@NYI: Sorokin makes 41 saves in 11th NHL shutout
Jaroslav Halak made 26 saves for Rangers (3-3-2), who have lost four in a row (0-2-2). The Rangers played their second straight game after a 3-2 shootout loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday.
“I was more concerned about the three games before last night,” Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said. “I think we played strong last night – we got a point against a really good hockey team – and tonight I think we played a good solid game for three periods. I like the way we play. If we keep playing [like that]we will win.”
Sorokin made 15 saves in the first half, including Mika ZibanejadAttempt to jam with 5:37 remaining.
“It’s good [to face] a lot of shots,” Sorokin said. “I was in the game.”
Palmieri scored on an instant shot from the slot that beat Halak’s glove side at 8:44 of the second period for a 1-0 lead.
Video: NYR@NYI: Palmieri gives Islanders 1-0 lead in 2nd
After Adam Fox hitting the crossbar 1:11 into the third period, Josh Bailey extended the Islanders’ lead to 2-0 at 5:37. Bailey cut diagonally from the left wing through the slot before swinging Pelech’s slap shot from the right circle past Halak.
“Against your home rivals, you feel an extra boost and feel a bit more like a playoff-type atmosphere,” Bailey said. “It would be a bit [more] tighter control, and that’s what I felt there.”
Palmieri made it 3-0 at 15:22. His shot from the edge of the right circle bounced in and out of the net. Play continued for a few moments before being seen again in the NHL Situation Room.
“It always feels good [to get back on track]”, Palmieri said. “There are things that we liked about our game this weekend that may not have been rewarded, but this one is obviously always important, especially at home. So it was really good to beat those guys.”
The Rangers outscored the Islanders 41-29 for the game. Thirty-two of 41 shots came at even strength. Eight more came on the power play, and they had a shorthanded attempt.
“We have confidence in the squad we have here,” said Rangers captain Jacob Trouba said. “We know we can score goals. We get chances, they just don’t come in. That’s how it is. All we can do is keep working and eventually things will turn around for us. .”
REMARKS: The win was the Islanders’ first against Rangers at UBS Arena. Rangers won both games there last season, the arena’s first. … The Islanders’ penalty kill went 3-for-3 and is 25-for-25 this season. The seven games without allowing a power-play goal to start the season ties the 2008-09 Minnesota Wild and 2014-25 Detroit Red Wings for the most since 1977-78, when special teams began being tracked. … Rangers called up the right wing Julien Gautier of Hartford of the American Hockey League. He played instead of Vitaly Kravtsov, who Gallant said suffered daily from an upper-body injury. Gauthier skated on the third line with Jimmy Vesey and Barclay Goodrow and had two shots on goal in 10:44 of ice time. … Bailey played his 999th NHL game.
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