Horvat's Hot Start and Sorokin's Record
Bo Horvat scored twice, including a power-play goal for a third straight game, and the New York Islanders defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1 at UBS Arena on Thursday. Horvat opened the scoring at 19:03 of the first period, winning a face-off back to Matthew Schaefer, whose wrist shot from the point was stopped by Arvid Soderblom before Horvat gathered the rebound in front and scored inside the left post. Horvat added his second goal into an empty net at 18:27 of the third period. He left the game at that same time after taking an illegal check to the head from Frank Nazar following his shot toward the empty net. Horvat was still being evaluated after the game, and Nazar was given a five-minute match penalty.[S1][S2]
Ilya Sorokin made 22 saves and established the longest home shutout streak to begin a season in franchise history at 8:00 elapsed time in the third period, surpassing Glenn Resch's 107:20 mark from 1975-76. Sorokin's shutout streak ended at 165:31, the longest of his career, when Nazar scored with 2:32 remaining in the third period. Sorokin had been vying for his second straight shutout after he and the Islanders defeated the New Jersey Devils 6-0 on Saturday, when he made 37 saves. Semyon Varlamov was in net for a 5-2 loss at the New York Rangers on Tuesday.[S1][S2]
Heineman and Duclair Add Goals as Islanders Build Lead
Emil Heineman doubled the lead at 6:44 of the second period, beating Soderblom from the high slot after Matias Maccelli found him cutting into the slot with a pass from the right wall. Anthony Duclair pushed the lead to 3-0 at 9:38, burying a one-time pass by Logan Stanley from the right side for his first goal of the season. Stanley had two assists in the win. Adam Pelech assisted on Heineman's goal and tied Mark Streit for 10th in Islanders history among defensemen with 179 points (30 goals, 149 assists).[S1][S2]
Frank Nazar ended Sorokin's shutout at 17:26 of the third period with Soderblom pulled for the extra attacker, cutting the deficit to 3-1. Nazar beat Sorokin high blocker side with a one-timer from between the circles off a pass from Patrick Kane. Kane's assist was the 893rd of his career, moving him within one of tying Phil Housley for the most by an American-born player in NHL history. Horvat then scored into an empty net for the 4-1 final at 18:27.[S1][S2]
Coaches and Players React, Plus Injury News
New York coach Peter DeBoer said it was a good game for his team and that getting the first goal was important, adding that special teams were the difference early and he liked the 5-on-5 detail as the game went on. Chicago coach Jeff Blashill said his team did a lot of positive things but did not get enough out of it, noting that in one sequence they turned the puck over, took a penalty, and blew an assignment on the penalty kill. Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane said that after the Islanders scored on the power play and off a turnover to make it 2-0, they were chasing the game. Heineman called it a really big win and said he liked how the team bounced back and wants to get on a roll.[S1][S2]
Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov, who left Tuesday night's 5-2 loss to the New York Rangers, will miss the rest of the regular season with a torn ACL in his right knee. The Blackhawks host the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday, while the Islanders host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday.[S2]
