In a thrilling encounter at New York, the Islanders celebrated a decisive 7-4 victory over the Nashville Predators, marking goaltender Ilya Sorokin’s first credited goal. The unexpected moment came in the dying seconds of the match when Nashville’s forward, Steven Stamkos, inadvertently directed a pass into his own empty net, securing the Islanders’ triumph.
Brock Nelson played a pivotal role in the victory, contributing two goals and an assist, as the Islanders notched their second consecutive win. Additional goals were netted by Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Kyle Palmieri, Bo Horvat, and Casey Cizikas, with Adam Boqvist and Simon Holmstrom each assisting twice. Between the posts, Sorokin was a formidable presence, stopping 23 shots, including the crucial save that led to Stamkos’ misdirected pass.
Nashville’s effort was led by Cole Smith, who scored twice in what marked their third loss in four games. Marc Del Gaizo and Colton Sissons also found the back of the net, while goaltender Juuse Saros made 30 stops against a relentless New York offense.
The Islanders gained a significant edge early in the second period when Nelson scored a short-handed goal, extending their lead to 4-1 just two minutes and thirty-eight seconds in. Nelson continued his scoring spree, netting his 19th goal of the season later in the period.
On the trade front, the Predators orchestrated a deal sending forward Gustav Nyquist to the Minnesota Wild for a second-round draft pick in 2026, while retaining 50% of his salary. The Islanders, meanwhile, could potentially consider putting Nelson on the trade market as the deadline approaches since they are not presently in contention for the Eastern Conference playoffs.
A critical moment in the match occurred when Horvat capitalized on a late first-period rebound following a Nashville error, helping the Islanders dominate the opening with a 3-0 lead, having outshot the Predators 19-3.
This game saw the Islanders improve their record to 14-5-4 when scoring first, an important stat as the season progresses. Looking ahead, the Predators continue their road stretch against the New York Rangers on Sunday, while the Islanders will face off against the Rangers on Monday night.
