3 Takeaways: Islanders Snatch Second-Straight Shutout

Rolling out of Vegas on a winning note.
The New York Islanders shut out the Vegas Golden Knights 2-0 on Sunday night at T-Mobile Arena, one night after defeating Arizona 3-0 on Saturday. With the win, the Islanders completed their first of 19 back-to-back sets this season in winning fashion, extended their win streak to two games and their point streak to four games (3-0-1).

Josh Bailey (1G, 1A) and Mathew Barzal got on the scoresheet, while Ilya Sorokin became the first goaltender in franchise history to record shutouts on consecutive days with his 42-save performance. With his two-point performance, Bailey now holds sole possession for 10th all-time in franchise points with 515.
For Vegas, former Islanders netminder Robin Lehner made 24 saves on 26 shots.
"We were able to grind through it," Islanders Head Coach Barry Trotz said. "The first period, there was good structure and commitment and we capitalized on one chance and had a few other chances. Robin [Lehner] for them came up really big. Second period, they had us on our heels a bit and Sorokin came up and answered the bell there. We knew they'd have a real hard push in the third and once we got the second goal, they got probably four chances at the end and we hung in there. Sorokin made a couple of huge saves for us."

TROTZ UTILIZES SAME LINEUP

Despite hinting at some potential changes to the lineup, Trotz deployed the same group that earned the Islanders a 3-0 shutout victory against Arizona last night.
"I went back with the same lineup for a couple of reasons," Trotz said. "We've got 18 of [back-to-back sets] coming up and part of it is getting used to it. Backs to backs can be really hard, so you have to be mentally strong, so it was a little bit of a challenge for them. The group that started this trip, obviously we started in a little bit of a hole, we dug ourselves out of that hole. I felt like we could go back with a few people...I thought we prepared pretty well for a really good hockey team that plays a fast game and puts you in tough spaces."
Trotz's hand fared well as that same group was effective in shutting down the Golden Knights. In doing so, the Islanders put the game away with a first-period goal from Bailey and a third period goal from Barzal.
After facing a frenzy of shots in the opening few minutes of the game, the Islanders drew the first blood moments later. In a transition play up the ice, Bailey centered a feed to Jean-Gabriel Pageau in the slot. Lehner came up with a stop on Pageau's initial shot, making a kick-save, but Bailey buried the rebound on the doorstep to give the Islanders a 1-0 lead just 2:16 into the period.

After surviving the second period, where the Islanders were outshot 14-4 and put on their heels, they came out with a strong effort in the final 20-minutes of play.
Right out the gate, the Islanders were buzzing. Casey Cizikas nearly scored on a breakaway in the first minute of the frame, but his shot over Lehner's glove ricocheted off the post.
The Islanders continued to generate some meaningful momentum after receiving their first power play of the game 1:40 into the frame when Brayden McNabb went to the box for interference on Kyle Palmieri.
The Islanders power play nearly converted several times with Lehner making a blocker save on a point-blank shot from Brock Nelson, Anthony Beauvillier striking the post on a cross-slot feed from Barzal and an Anders Lee attempt to jam the puck in tight.
While the Islanders power play was unsuccessful and 0-for-2 on the night, the team received a momentum boost from it. Shortly after the power play, Barzal collected a pass from Bailey, jetted down the right wall, cut to the net and lifted the puck bar down and over Lehner to double the Islanders' lead 2-0 at 7:33.
"At the end of a road trip, you're going into the final period you just bear down," Barzal said. "And do whatever you can to get a point or two and that's what we did. That last period of a long road trip can bring a group together. We found our legs."

SHOW STOPPING SOROKIN

Sorokin set a new franchise record as the first goalie in Islanders history to deliver shutouts on consecutive days as he completed his first-career NHL back-to-back set.
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"He's never played a back-to-back," Trotz said of Sorokin. "In typical fashion, when I talked to him, he'd never played back-to-back and in our conversation before I said we'll see how you feel tomorrow, let's talk after meetings and he said I'm good, I thought he was real dialed in. That was great
The sophomore netminder was solid as he made his sixth start of the season and earned his second shutout of the season after recording a 26-save clean sheet on Saturday night at Arizona.
Sorokin has been sharp in net for the Islanders the past few games and continued to show that poise against a young, but hungry Vegas squad, who were without its big guns; Max Pacioretty (fractured foot), Mark Stone (lower-body injury), Alex Tuch (upper body) and Alec Martinez (undisclosed).
After facing - and denying - an onslaught of pressure in the opening few minutes of the game, Sorokin primed the Islanders for their first strike on Bailey's goal just 2:16 into the period. The Russian goalie came up with 12 saves in the first period, including holding off a Vegas power play as a result of Zdeno Chara's interference call at 9:35.

In the second period, Sorokin had his work cut out for him. The Golden Knights tested him with fury and led with a 14-4 edge in shots on goal, but Sorokin stood tall.
He showcased his acrobatics and made confident saves. Namely, Sorokin robbed Sorokin Keegan Kolesar with his heel late in the frame. Kolesar toe dragged across the crease and got Sorokin to sprawl out, but his attempt to lift the puck over Sorokin's foot was denied as the Islanders netminder made the last-second stop. Not long after, Sorokin flashed leather on a Nicolas Hague shot from atop the left faceoff circle with 1:47 left.
It was a huge performance by Sorokin, who now has five shutouts in 28-career regular-season games.
"He's been outstanding. He's won us games," Cizikas said of Sorokin. "He's kept us in games so back-to-back shutouts to finish the road trip, that's big, you can see him, he's comfortable in there, he's confident in there. He's not giving up too many second opportunities. He's standing tall and winning us games."

MUCH NEEDED BREAK IN ACTION

After opening up the 2021-22 season with six games in 11 days, the Islanders will look to take advantage of some much-needed rest and recovery as they head back to Long Island and have a five-day stretch without a game.
It's a much-welcomed break for the group that started off the road trip with two losses and an - uncharacteristic 11 goals against - has now earned points in four-straight games and just strung together back-to-back shutouts. The Islanders, who still have a way to go until their Nov. 20 home opener at UBS Arena, underwent growth in this road trip as a group and are looking forward to continuing in a positive trajectory.
"You can't just flip the switch at the start of the year and have everything snap into place," Bailey said. "Sometimes it takes a bit of time. Obviously, the situation we're in here, being on the road, it's not an easy one. We regrouped well as the trip went on, it wasn't easy losing the first two against two good teams, but we just kept fighting and kept sticking together and that's what it's all about, sticking together and trusting each other."

NEXT GAME:

The Islanders will continue their 13-game road trip with their next stop at Nashville on Saturday afternoon. Puck drop is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. ET.