Even Cizikas scored twice. CIZIKAS. Who dog-walked the puck through Markstrom like he did Fleury in the playoffs. Duclair had a hat-trick and five points +6. And without Sorokin facing 45 shots but tons of great chances this could have been a very different game. This was not New Jersey taking shots from everywhere and racking up 45 shots from bad angles. New York took fifty once and were shutout by Pens.
At the end NY wanted to sit back at 6-0 Devils pressed and everything they threw at Markstrom hit the corners or went through him in the name of Jim Bennington/ Joey Daccord this season.
Some nights it makes no sense. Enjoy, it can't be another nine games with two or less goals. Whoever has to produce if they are serious about playoffs. One game does not change nine goals/eighteen games. This is what Duclair was signed for, and why I wanted him on his team. It can't be one game.
Hear from the #Isles after tonight's win!
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) January 7, 2026
#NYC #NYI #isles Ultimately I think Devils went with the strategy NY can't score more then two goals, let's play for a 5-6 goal game, but when NY got three goals Devils were forced to open up more but were giving up chances to get them, and everything NY got went in.
— New York Islander Fan Central (@NYIFANCENTRAL) January 7, 2026
#NYC #NYI #Isles Nice Sorokin set a record, not a big deal to me. The era Chico/Smitty did this it was much tougher to record a shutout with less goalie equipment, smaller players, tons of more open ice. Higher scoring games in general.
— New York Islander Fan Central (@NYIFANCENTRAL) January 7, 2026
#NYC #NYI #isles Don't tell anyone Chico/Smitty both have 27 shutouts, Sorokin has 26. Gotta count those playoffs folks. Chico in 75-76 (seven shutouts) had a .928 save percentage in 44 games/2.08 GAA great numbers for 2025-26. Incredible. Dolan's guy Hornick had usual off night.
— New York Islander Fan Central (@NYIFANCENTRAL) January 7, 2026