However, Sorokin kept it a one-goal game with a blocker save against Andreas Johnsson on a breakaway at 2:34 of the second period, and Andy Greene tied it 2-2 with a wrist shot from the edge of the right circle at 8:33.
"That was huge, that sort of reset him," Trotz said of the Sorokin save. "That first period, I was going, 'He's not feeling it tonight and not seeing it.' … He settled in the rest of the night. I thought he was outstanding after that."
Parise gave New York a 3-2 lead at 16:33 on a shorthanded breakaway after receiving a backhand feed in the neutral zone from Pageau, who one-timed a pass from Wahlstrom to make it 4-2 at 9:37 of the third period.
Parise's goal drought ended on what would have been his father's 80th birthday. J.P. Parise, who played for the Islanders from 1975-78, died in 2015.
"Really, there's not a day that goes by that I don't think about him, what he did for me as a person and as a player," Parise said. "I had a good feeling coming to the rink today for whatever reason, just knowing his birthday. I had a good feeling all day, so for me it was pretty emotional. When that puck went in, of course my mind goes right to him and what he did for me as a person and as a player."
The Devils played without center Nico Hischier and defenseman Ryan Graves, who were placed in NHL COVID-19 protocol before the game.
"Obviously, they're both important players," Ruff said. "Every team has had to deal with this. We're going to have to deal with it. We'll find out where everything is at in the next couple of days, but again, we have to find players within our roster to pick up the slack and help us win hockey games."
NOTES: It was Wahlstrom's third straight multipoint game (one goal, five assists) ... Islanders centers Brock Nelson (lower body) and Casey Cizikas (COVID-19 protocol) each returned to the lineup. Nelson, who missed seven games, had two shots on goal in 16:52 of ice time; Cizikas, who missed five, had two shots in 14:59. … New York forward Anthony Beauvillier was a healthy scratch after being benched for the first 10 minutes of the second period in a 4-3 loss to the Nashville Predators on Thursday. … Barzal extended his point streak to six games (one goal, eight assists). … With Graves unavailable, Devils defenseman Christian Jaros played 8:36 and had one shot and three hits. Center Jesper Boqvist replaced Hischier and had one shot in 11:28.