IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Oct 4, 2026 3:46 PM
Updated Oct 4, 2026 3:51 PM
After blanking New Jersey with 37 saves, the elite Russian netminder distanced himself from peers like Igor Shesterkin to cement his status as his generation's premier brick wall.
New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin turned away all 37 shots the New Jersey Devils sent his way on Saturday night in a 6-0 home win.
That shutout was the 30th of No. 30's NHL career, making him the first goaltender from the 2014 NHL Draft to accomplish that feat.
There were 21 goaltenders selected in the 2014 NHL Draft, including Sorokin's good pal, New York Rangers backstop Igor Shesterkin (No. 118), who sits with 22 shutouts.
Former Columbus Blue Jackets and now Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (No. 76) ran ks third with 12 while Islanders third-string netminder Vitek Vanecek (No. 39) with 11.
Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko (No. 36) sits with 10 to round out the top-five.
Sorokin, the Vezina Trophy runner-up to Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy last season, led the NHL with seven shutouts. He also led the NHL in 2022-23 with six shutouts.
He came close to leading the league in 2021-22, with seven, but then Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom led the way with nine.
Last season, Sorokin passed Islanders great Chico Resch (25 shutouts) to sit atop the franchise leader board.
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