

BUFFALO, NY -- The New York Islanders were not on their game early against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night. Their passing was off, especially on fast-break opportunities.
After Simon Holmstrom tried to drop the puck to teammate Pierre Engvall on the rush, the puck ended up coming back the other way.
Sabres forward J.J. Peterka was the puck carrier, breaking away with the backcheckers to get on a 2-on-1 with teammate Peyton Krebs, with only Ryan Pulock back.
Pulock did allow the pass to get through, but Islanders netminder Ilya Sorokin said no, flashing the leather to deny a Sabres goal with 5:47 to play in the first.
The Islanders were outshot 13-4 in the first period, as Sorokin is the sole reason that they didn't find themselves trailing.