The New York Islanders delivered a stunning performance on Tuesday night, defeating the New Jersey Devils 9-0 in Elmont, New York. The victory marked a historic achievement for Ilya Sorokin, who recorded his team-record 26th career shutout, surpassing the previous record held by Glenn “Chico” Resch. This win ties the Islanders’ record for the most lopsided shutout, matching a feat accomplished against the Pittsburgh Penguins on January 9, 1986.
Anthony Duclair led the charge for the Islanders, scoring a natural hat trick in a remarkable five-point game. Duclair, who had been a healthy scratch for the previous two games, entered the match with just four goals in 39 contests this season. His hat trick was his fourth overall and his first since December 14, 2019, when he played for the Ottawa Senators. In addition to Duclair’s scoring, Casey Cizikas contributed two goals and an assist, while Mathew Barzal and Tony DeAngelo each added a goal and an assist of their own.
Sorokin was exceptional in goal, stopping 44 shots as the Islanders improved their record to five wins in their last seven games (5-2-0). The Devils, on the other hand, have struggled recently, losing six of their last eight contests (2-5-1). Their goalie, Jacob Markstrom, managed only 15 saves during the match.
Other NHL Highlights from Tuesday Night
In other games across the NHL, the Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Winnipeg Jets 4-3 in overtime, snapping a five-game losing streak. Tomas Hertl scored the decisive power-play goal with just 12.8 seconds left in the extra period. The Golden Knights saw contributions from Mark Stone, Brett Howden, and Reilly Smith, while Carter Hart made 17 saves. The Jets, meanwhile, continued their woes with a tenth consecutive loss (0-6-4).
The Tampa Bay Lightning extended their winning streak to eight games with a 4-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche. Brandon Hagel scored the tiebreaking goal in the third period and added an assist, helping the Lightning secure a critical victory. Nikita Kucherov increased his point streak to eight games, with two assists in the match.
Meanwhile, the Edmonton Oilers secured a convincing 6-2 victory against the Nashville Predators. Connor McDavid starred with a hat trick, while Leon Draisaitl contributed a goal and two assists. The Oilers, who had previously lost three of their past four games, demonstrated resilience in this matchup. The Predators, despite their recent success, ended the road trip on a losing note.
The Buffalo Sabres edged the Vancouver Canucks 5-3, with Alex Tuch contributing a goal and an assist. The Sabres have now won 11 of their last 12 games, showcasing their impressive form. The Canucks, conversely, faced their fourth consecutive loss, struggling on their longest road trip of the season.
In other notable games, the Carolina Hurricanes outpaced the Dallas Stars 6-3, with K’Andre Miller scoring two goals. The Philadelphia Flyers defeated the Anaheim Ducks 5-2, as Trevor Zegras scored twice against his former team. Lastly, the Toronto Maple Leafs overcame the Florida Panthers 4-1, highlighted by Matthew Knies‘ goal and assist in his 200th career game.
The NHL continues to deliver thrilling matchups as teams vie for playoff positions, showcasing not only individual brilliance but also the intensity of team competition across the league.
