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    Michael Ostrower
    Michael Ostrower
    Jan 25, 2025, 03:16

    Sorokin's 29 saves led the Islanders to a 3-1 victory over the Flyers.

    Sorokin's 29 saves led the Islanders to a 3-1 victory over the Flyers.

    The New York Islanders picked up a key 3-1 Metropolitan Division victory over the Philadelphia Flyers Friday night.

    Brock Nelson had a goal and an assist and Bo Horvat had the game-winning goal while Ilya Sorokin stopped 29 of 30 shots for his 15th win of the season.

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    The Islanders were without Noah Dobson, who left Monday's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets with a lower-body injury. He has since been placed on the injured reserve list.

    Dennis Cholowski slotted into the lineup in Dobson's place.

    Here's how the game unfolded. 

    The first 6:30 was uneventful, with only one combined shot on goal between the two teams, but an open-ice hit by Alexander Romanov on Cam York sparked energy in the crowd.

    Travis Konecny dropped the gloves, but Romanov did not, resulting in a minor penalty for roughing.

    The Islanders' power play began the night with a 12.5% success rate, the lowest in the NHL.

    They failed to put a shot on goal during the two minutes.

    The game remained relatively quiet until Ryan Pulock failed to pinch Konecny to hold the puck in the offensive zone, allowing Tyson Foerster and Morgan Frost to start an odd-man rush.

    Foerster opted to keep the puck, shooting blocker side past Ilya Sorokin to put the Flyers on top 1-0 at 14:14. 

    In the closing minutes of the period, Kyle Palmieri delivered a backhand pass to Brock Nelson, who sent a cross-ice feed to Anthony Duclair.

    Duclair fired it past Ivan Fedotov for his 4th goal of the season at 17:08.

    55 seconds later, Mathew Barzal fed Bo Horvat a cross-crease pass before he fired it high past Fedotov's blocker.

    This was Horvat's 17th goal of the season and Barzal's 14th point in his past 14 games.

    Each extended their point streak to four games.

    The period concluded with the two teams tied at 6 shots each.

    The second period opened with both teams trading opportunities, but at 8:16, Matvei Michkov broke free on a breakaway.

    Isaiah George closed the gap quickly, applying enough pressure to force Michkov into a shot that landed squarely in Sorokin's chest.

    The Flyers continued to apply pressure, including a feed by Frost that went across Sorokin's crease, yet were unable to beat Sorokin.

    The Islanders headed to their first penalty kill when Nelson tripped Foerster at 10:10.

    Despite owning a 67.7% success rate on the penalty kill, the Islanders built on their recent success, limiting the Flyers to low-quality looks. 

    Shortly after, the Islanders struck again for the third time in the game off the rush. 

    Adam Pelech sent a pass down ice to Brock Nelson, who buried a wrist shot past Fedotov glove side at 13:56 to put the Isles on top 3-1.

    The goal was Nelson's 14th of the season, second point of the night, and ninth point in his past seven games. 

    The Islanders continued to push, highlighted by a Casey Cizikas wrap-around attempt at 14:49. Fedotov made the save and the two sides continued to get feisty after the whistle.

    The second period concluded with the Islanders outshooting the Flyers 14-7.

    At the start of the third, the Islanders’ blue line appeared to take another hit when Anthony Richard’s slew foot caught Scott Mayfield’s leg along the boards.

    Mayfield headed straight to the locker room but returned after missing a few shifts. No penalty was assessed on the play.

    Later, a Rasmus Ristolainen interference penalty on Barzal at 7:13 gave the Islanders their third power-play opportunity of the game. 

    However, they continued to struggle, generating little pressure from high-danger areas and relying mostly on perimeter shots.

    The Islanders' best chance of the closing period came at 15:38 when Horvat dished Barzal a saucer pass in front of the crease. Fedotov made the save with his glove.

    The Flyers pulled Fedotov for an extra attacker at 16:50 but could not beat Sorokin, as the Islanders extended their win streak to three games.

    UP NEXT: The Islanders seven-game homestand continues on Saturday night at 7:30 PM ET against the Carolina Hurricanes.