Sorokin makes 41 saves, Islanders shut out Rangers

ELMONT, N.Y. -- Ilya Sorokin made 41 saves and the New York Islanders shut out the New York Rangers 3-0 at UBS Arena on Wednesday.

The shutout was Sorokin's first of the season and 11th in the NHL. He tied the Islanders record with seven last season.
"He was outstanding," Islanders coach Lane Lambert said. "He's gained confidence, he's gained so much in the time he's been here, period."
Kyle Palmieri scored his first two goals of the season, and Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Adam Pelech each had two assists for the Islanders (3-4-0), who ended a three-game losing streak.
"It was just our overall commitment level," Lambert said. "I thought that we played better, and so I'm glad they got rewarded for it tonight. They deserve it."

Jaroslav Halak made 26 saves for the Rangers (3-3-2), who have lost four straight (0-2-2). The Rangers played the second of a back to back after a 3-2 shootout loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday.
"I was more concerned about the three games prior to last night," Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said. "I thought we played hard last night -- got a point against a real good hockey team -- and tonight I thought we played a good, solid game for three periods. I like the way we're playing. If we continue to play [like that], we'll win."
Sorokin made 15 saves in the first period, including Mika Zibanejad's jam attempt with 5:37 remaining.
"It's good [to face] a lot of shots," Sorokin said. "I was in the game."
Palmieri scored on a snap shot from the slot that beat Halak glove side at 8:44 of the second period for a 1-0 lead.

After Adam Fox hit the crossbar 1:11 into the third period, Josh Bailey extended the Islanders lead to 2-0 at 5:37. Bailey cut diagonally from the left wing through the slot before tipping Pelech's slap shot from the right circle past Halak.
"Against your rivals at home, you feel that extra boost and feels a little more like a playoff-type atmosphere," Bailey said. "It'd be a little [more] tighter checking, and that's what it felt like out there."
Palmieri made it 3-0 at 15:22. His shot from the edge of the right circle bounced in and out of the net. Play continued for a few moments before it was reviewed in the NHL Situation Room.
"It always feels good [to get back on track]," Palmieri said. "There were some things that we liked about our game over the weekend and maybe didn't get rewarded for it, but this one's obviously always a big one, especially at home. So, it felt really good to beat those guys."
The Rangers outshot the Islanders 41-29 for the game. Thirty-two of the 41 shots came at even strength. Another eight came on the power play, and they had one short-handed attempt.
"We're confident in the group we have here," Rangers captain Jacob Trouba said. "We know we can score goals. We're getting opportunities, they're just not going in. It is what it is. All we can do is keep working and eventually things are going to turn for us."
NOTES: The win was the Islanders' first against the Rangers at UBS Arena. The Rangers won both games there last season, the arena's first. … The Islanders penalty kill went 3-for-3 and is 25-for-25 this season. The seven games without allowing a power-play goal to start the season ties the 2008-09 Minnesota Wild and 2014-25 Detroit Red Wings for the most since 1977-78, when special teams began being tracked. … The Rangers called up right wing Julien Gauthier from Hartford of the American Hockey league. He played in place of Vitali Kravtsov, who Gallant said was day to day with an upper-body injury. Gauthier skated on the third line with Jimmy Vesey and Barclay Goodrow and had two shots on goal in 10:44 of ice time. … Bailey played his 999th NHL game.