Sorokin makes 30 saves, Islanders shut out Golden Knights

LAS VEGAS -- Ilya Sorokin made 30 saves for the New York Islanders in a 4-0 victory against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on Thursday.

It was Sorokin's second shutout this season and 20th in the NHL.

Brock Nelson had a goal and an assist, and Anders Lee, Bo Horvat and Casey Cizikas also scored for the Islanders (16-18-7), who have won two straight. Alexander Romanov had two assists.

“We believe that we can win on any given night against anybody,” Nelson said. “... Everybody has to believe. So, it’s definitely a statement win for us, given the spot we're in. Now we're trying to get on a streak. So, to go out there, back it up, do it, get two, obviously we want to follow it up now on Saturday (at the Utah Hockey Club).”

Adin Hill made 17 saves for the Golden Knights (28-10-3), who had won three in a row.

“It wasn't our night. They played a solid, tight game and made it hard for us offensively,” Vegas forward Victor Olofsson said. “You've just got to be patient against teams like this, and I think we gave them a little bit too much and gave them a couple of goals. It's a hard team to beat when they're up a couple of goals and just trying to shut it down.”

Lee gave the Islanders a 1-0 lead with a shot five-hole on Hill at 17:04 of the first period. Tomas Hertl’s pass went off Noah Hanifin’s skate and onto the stick of Nelson, who passed it to Lee in the right circle.

The goal came shortly after Hertl had a power-play goal overturned at 13:50 because of a challenge for offside.

“We knew it was offside. We just wanted to make sure that they didn't touch back before going in," Islanders coach Patrick Roy said. "As soon as [Jack] Eichel had the puck on his blade while the guy was still in, we knew that was offside. So, I mean, it was welcome for us. At the same time, we finished a kill and it was the key moment in the game.”

Nelson made it 2-0 at 5:30 of the second period, taking a drop pass from Mathew Barzal on a rush and roofing a wrist shot glove side from the high slot.

Horvat pushed it to 3-0 at 10:41 with a one-timer from the low slot off a pass from behind the net by Kyle Palmieri.

Cizikas added an empty-net goal at 17:26 for the 4-0 final.

“We didn't give up much. They were very opportunistic. Obviously, we didn't score, so we were not opportunistic at all,” Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said. “I don't think there was a lot there, but when they had opportunities, they finished. So, credit to them for checking us while not allowing us to finish, because we have scored goals this year. So, it’s a little surprising we couldn't get on the board, but that happens. The shooting's off, the goalie's good, or the checking’s good. It happens in this league, and it happened to us tonight.”

NOTES: Lee played in his 800th NHL game. He also scored his 42nd career game-winning goal, passing Clark Gillies and tying John Tavares for the fifth-most in Islanders history. ... Sorokin (222 games played) is the second-fastest active goaltender to record 20 career shutouts, behind only Jonathan Quick of the New York Rangers (214).