Sorokin's heroics and a tight defense define this intense rivalry. Can the Islanders complete the sweep with a new lineup against Tampa?
The New York Islanders will play the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday for the third and final time this season. These three games all come in a 12-day span, with Patrick Roy's squad eying the sweep.
Defense has been the name of the game when these two teams go head-to-head, and Ilya Sorokin has been the hero.
Sorokin stopped 27 of 28 in the Islanders' 2-1 win over Tampa on Dec. 2. Then, four days later, he turned aside all 32 shots that came his way.
For the math wizards, that's a .983 SV% and a 0.53 GAA.
Now, the Islanders' defensive effort in those games played a part in the two victories, but in the big moments, especially late in both games, it was Sorokin who rose to the occasion.
With Bo Horvat sustaining a lower-body injury in their 5-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks, the Islanders will be showing the Lightning a third different lineup.
The first meeting:
The second meeting:
Projections for the third:
Puck drop is scheduled for 3:51 PM ET at UBS Arena with Pat LaFontaine's induction ceremony beginning at 3:30 PM ET.