Mar 22, 2026; Elmont, New York, USA; New York Islanders heart Bo Horvat (14) celebrates his objective in opposition to the Columbus Blue Jackets with teammates through the first interval at UBS Area. Obligatory Credit score: Brad Penner-Imagn Pictures
ELMONT, NY — Bo Horvat’s first-period objective and Ilya Sorokin’s heroics acquired the New York Islanders again to successful methods, securing a 1-0 victory over the red-hot Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday night time at UBS Area.
Sorokin made 26 saves within the win, saving his heroics for the ultimate barrage of Jackets stress within the last three minutes that noticed the Islanders pinned again for a lot of that span. It was a fast turnaround for the star netminder, who was pulled throughout Saturday night time’s 7-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens.
“After yesterday’s recreation, it was essential to proceed to do what I do all season,” Sorokin stated. “There was nothing greater I may do. I simply tried to play merely, and the blokes performed behind me very effectively. It was an enormous recreation tonight, and we performed very decently.”
That makes seven shutouts this season for Sorokin, tying a single-season franchise report with Chico Resch and Semyon Varlamov.
“After I had a recreation that I used to be not 100% pleased… you wish to play immediately,” Islanders head coach Patrick Roy stated of Sorokin. “You wish to have an opportunity to play even the subsequent night time. For some cause, your focus is best. Ilya is an individual who likes to compete, and he did a very nice job. It’s not straightforward coming again after a pair losses like we had, however he confirmed plenty of character.”
With the win, the Islanders transfer again right into a playoff spot after dropping their last two video games of their Canadian street journey. Sunday night time’s two factors allowed them to leapfrog over the Detroit Pink Wings for the second and last Wild Card spot within the Jap Convention.
In addition they managed to attract stage with Columbus on 85 factors, although the Blue Jackets have a recreation in hand and nonetheless maintain third place within the Metropolitan Division — the ultimate automated playoff qualifier that ensures both of the East’s division winners is prevented within the first spherical of the playoffs.
The Blue Jackets had been one of many hottest groups in all of hockey getting into Sunday night time’s tilt. On a seven-game level streak, they’d simply two regulation losses of their final 25 video games, going 19-2-4 throughout that stretch.
Horvat gave the Islanders the lead 1:25 into the sport when he acquired on the tip of an Anders Lee alley-oop cross off the left boards. Coming down the left wing, he sniped his twenty ninth objective of the season over the shoulder of Blue Jackets goalie Jet Greaves.
“I’m simply making an attempt to be good on each ends of the rink and fortunately, scoring at essential occasions is part of that,” Horvat, who now has seven game-winning targets this season, stated. “I’m pleased that one went in early, and we did an incredible job of maintaining it.”
The offense and the house to create it dried up amid a playoff-like matchup. Although the Islanders weren’t wanting alternatives to increase their lead. An influence-play that had scored six occasions of their final six video games went 0-for-3 throughout the primary 45 minutes of play.
In addition they had a second objective waved off with 7:54 remaining in regulation. Horvat despatched a shot off the pads of Greaves that in the end slid with Columbus winger Mathieu Olivier’s into the web as he was making an attempt to quell an on-rushing Lee. Columbus challenged as Lee, who was pushed into Greaves, made contact with the netminder’s stick as he scrambled to get again into place. It was deemed sufficient to be goalie interference, and New York’s insurance coverage was no extra.
“They stated that Anders went in [to Greaves] on his personal,” Roy stated. “Properly, I assume I’ve a distinct opinion. However why was Olivier so mad? As a result of he knew he pushed Anders within the web, and he put the puck himself within the web.”
For extra on the Islanders, go to AMNY.com
