Sorokin gets 44-save shutout in return, Islanders score 9 against Devils

ELMONT, N.Y. -- Ilya Sorokin made 44 saves in his return from a lower-body injury, and Anthony Duclair scored a hat trick and had an NHL career-high five points for the New York Islanders in a 9-0 win against the New Jersey Devils at UBS Arena on Tuesday.

Sorokin, who was activated off injured reserve on Friday, was making his first start since Dec. 19. It was his fourth shutout of the season and 26th in the NHL, passing Glenn Resch for the most in Islanders history.

“I was a little nervous because not playing for two weeks and felt a little bit not on my game in first couple minutes,” Sorokin said. “But after shot by shot I started to feel confidence and guys helped me by scoring a lot tonight. It was an interesting game. ... It's good memories (to set a franchise record), but first of all, it's teamwork. Without the team I have nothing, so I thank the guys for their help.”

Mathew Barzal and Tony DeAngelo each had a goal and two assists, and Casey Cizikas had two goals and an assist for the Islanders (24-15-4), who have won two straight and three of four.

Duclair was plus-6; DeAngelo was plus-5.

“We wanted to win. We got the win,” New York coach Patrick Roy said. “I mean, did I expect it to be a game like this? No, because every time we play against these guys they're tight games, and the puck was just bouncing our way today, and for some reason we were getting more and more confident around the net. We were really good around the net. I mean, I think we could have been a little bit better limiting turnovers, but I mean, I thought that offensively it was one of our better games here.”

Jacob Markstrom made 15 saves for the Devils (22-19-2), who are 2-5-1 in their past eight games and were shut out for the fifth time this season.

“Obviously, [the score] makes it a challenge because there’s a lot of things we did well that led to, probably offensively, in terms of chance generation, the best game we’ve played in a really long time, offensively,” New Jersey coach Sheldon Keefe said. “But at the same time, the way we started the game in terms of the quality of chances we gave up, that’s unacceptable. That creates a hole that is hard to get out of.”

Barzal gave the Islanders a 1-0 lead at 1:08 of the first period. He buried a one-timer past a lunging Markstrom after receiving a no-look cross-ice pass from Ryan Pulock in the left circle.

Duclair extended the lead to 2-0 at 4:01. Skating in on an odd-man rush, Duclair elected to shoot the puck and beat Markstrom under his glove from the left circle.

Duclair scored his second of the period at 13:31 to make it 3-0. Following a turnover by the Devils in the offensive zone, Duclair received a backhand cross-ice pass from Cizikas before roofing another shot glove side from the left circle.

Duclair then completed the natural hat trick at 3:29 of the second period, scoring on a one-timer from the right circle off a pass from Barzal to make it 4-0.

It was his fourth NHL hat trick and his first since Dec. 14, 2019, with the Ottawa Senators.

“I’m very grateful, very thankful for all the fans that threw their hats,” Duclair said. “It's a great feeling. Shout-out to mom. Mom, it’s her last day on the island, so I wanted to play well for her, and I'm glad that she got to witness that.”

Simon Holmstrom pushed it to 5-0 at 11:12 of the second. He got to a rebound before Markstrom could cover it up and tucked the puck in at the right post while falling to the ice.

Cizikas made it 6-0 at 1:34 of the third period. He carried the puck down the left wing, and as he cut to the net on Luke Hughes, he lost control of the puck but still had it slide five-hole on Markstrom.

DeAngelo increased the lead to 7-0 at 11:28 when he beat Markstrom glove side from the high slot following a turnover by Cody Glass along the right boards.

Calum Ritchie made it 8-0 at 18:36 on a partial breakaway, and Cizikas scored 26 seconds later off a pass from Duclair on a 2-on-1 rush for the 9-0 final.

“Yeah, I mean, that's embarrassing,” Markstrom said. “From my part, angles, that's a joke. That's a joke. That’s a tough one. ... We want to apologize to the Devils fans. I have to be better and stop more pucks. We put up 40-plus shots. What did they put up, 20? And scored nine? I'm embarrassed for myself and toward my teammates and the team and defense. So, it's not good enough.”

NOTES: The Islanders tied their franchise record for the largest margin of victory in a shutout win, a feat previously accomplished on Jan. 9, 1986 (9-0 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins). ... New York scored nine goals in a game for the first time since Feb. 11, 2011 (9-3 win against Pittsburgh). ... Duclair's five-point game was the first by an Islanders player since Barzal on April 1, 2021. ... Devils forward Ondrej Palat was minus-5 in 9:39 of ice time; he was benched for the majority of the second period.