In Winnipeg, the New York Islanders’ Ilya Sorokin made 24 saves in a 2-0 win over the Jets on Saturday night.
“We know our goaltending is very strong and very capable,” New York head coach Barry Trotz said. “You look at the certain stats, you can really tell your team is playing as a team and connected to each other. I like that we had 19 blocked shots. Winnipeg puts a lot of pressure on your net … and we had 19 or 20 blocked shots.”
The Isles improved to 5-2-2 with the win.
“He’s so steady back there,” the Islanders’ Anders Lee said. “You can see it in his eyes, how calm he is back there, how quick he is.”
Lee scored in the first period to give the Islanders a 1-0 lead.
New York’s Brock Nelson doubled the lead with 47 seconds gone in the third period for the 2-0 final.
“There were a couple of plays where we just missed connecting,” Winnipeg’s Adam Lowry said. “We knew that the way they play they don’t cheat the game, they don’t break it open. They’re comfortable in these low-scoring games, they’re comfortable in that style, not necessarily sitting back but giving you the outside and waiting for their opportunities.”
The Jets dropped to 6-3-2.
“Their success is controlling the net front and controlling the slot and not allowing a lot to happen,” Winnipeg head coach Paul Maurice said. “So you’re going to need to build some chaos, which comes from some movement and some of those pucks getting through and getting to the net and causing that chaos. We didn’t do a lot of it tonight. I think you need to be able to really skate and drive in the offensive zone. I think we were little short on that tonight.”
Eric Comrie made 29 saves in the Jets loss.
“They don’t cheat the game and they do a good job in front of their net boxing out and making it hard to get chances from the slot,” the Jets’ Josh Morrissey said. “They’re hard on the forecheck and just a playoff style of game, really. Their goalie made some big saves tonight as well, so obviously frustrating.”
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