Islanders defeat Vegas 2-0

LAS VEGAS – Ilya Sorokin made 42 saves, Josh Bailey and Matthew Barzal scored and the New York Islanders beat the Vegas Golden Knights 2-0.

The Islanders recorded consecutive road shutouts after blanking Arizona 3-0 on Saturday. The Islanders improved to 22-4-4 on the back end of back-to-back games under coach Barry Trotz, who took over in 2018.

Sorokin, who has started all six games for the Islanders, improved to 3-2-1. It was the first time Sorokin ever started in net on back-to-back games.

“In typical (Sorokin) fashion, I thought he was really dialed in,” Trotz said according to AP. New York has played its first six games on the road, part of a season-opening 13-game road trip while the team awaits the opening of its new home, UBS Arena.

“People forget we had six preseason games on the road, we´ve been grinding through that,” Trotz said.

“A long road trip, which we got off to a tough start and we´ve had to piece it together. It´s hard getting the wheels turning sometimes. You gotta get through the grind.”

And while the Islanders are grinding through a brutal stretch of road games, the Golden Knights are battling the injury bug. Ten players have missed at least one game through Vegas´ first five games, including its top-line forwards Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty.

“It is what it is,” Vegas coach Peter DeBoer said. “It´s not easy, but you have to look at the bright side, and the bright side is it´s an opportunity for guys to jump into roles maybe they haven´t had, opportunities for young guys to step in, opportunities for us to really test the depth of the organization.

“While those things are great, we still have to find a way to win games.”

Vegas goaltender Robin Lehner (1-4-0) made 24 saves in his fifth straight start, matching the most consecutive starts he´s had since joining the Golden Knights.

Lehner last started five straight during the 2020 playoffs, spanning series against Chicago and Vancouver.

Vegas has been outscored 16-6 during a four-game losing streak and is now tied with four other teams for the third-fewest goals-for per game (2.00).

Las Vegas hadn´t lost four consecutive games in regulation since Jan. 7-14, 2020. Former coach Gerard Gallant was fired the next day and replaced by current coach Peter DeBoer.

The Golden Knights failed to capitalize on two power-play attempts and are now 0 for 11 with a man advantage this season.

They´re the only team without a power-play goal this season. Vegas´ long-term power-play drought is now 0 for 27 dating to June 6, which was Game 4 of the second round of last year´s playoffs.

Looking like anything but a team that was playing the second of back-to-back nights, let alone its sixth in 11 days, the Islanders came out fluid and active, striking first, a little more than two minutes into the game.