Ilya Sorokin stopped all 37 shots he faced as the New York Islanders turned their home opener into a 6-0 shutout of the New Jersey Devils. New York’s attack kept building through the night, and Simon Holmstrom punctuated it with a late short-handed goal as the Islanders sent the UBS Arena crowd home with a six-goal win.
How the Game Played Out
The Devils had early chances to make the opener uncomfortable. Dougie Hamilton put a shot on net that was tipped in close and struck the crossbar, while Sorokin dealt with another look in front. New Jersey found openings, but the Islanders’ goalie stayed composed and kept the visitors off the board.
At the other end, New York tested Daws with traffic and an awkward, knuckling shot that made for a difficult stop. The Islanders’ pressure grew as the game progressed. By the time Andre Plet’s goal made it 5-0, New York had established firm control. The transcript also notes that a Devils player scored 42 seconds later, but the play-by-play wording is unclear, so the sequence does not provide a reliable scorer to add here.
The final push brought another moment for the home crowd. With New Jersey on a power play and roughly a minute and a half remaining, Casey Cizikas kept after a loose puck. Holmstrom finished the short-handed chance to make it 6-0, capping a performance that combined sustained pressure with strong work from Sorokin. The Islanders closed out the shutout, and Sorokin finished with 37 saves.
The period-by-period score is not specified in the available game details, but the progression is clear: New Jersey generated early looks, New York steadily stretched its lead, and the Islanders were still attacking late. Holmstrom’s short-handed finish underlined how thoroughly the home side carried its energy into the closing minutes.
What the Result Means
Both teams were playing their second game of the season, making this a sharp early statement from New York rather than a late-season verdict. The Islanders opened the home portion of their 2026-27 campaign with a win, a clean sheet and six goals. Sorokin’s shutout gave the performance its foundation, while the late short-handed score showed that New York kept competing even with a commanding advantage.
For New Jersey, the result leaves the Devils looking to respond after being held scoreless. They had chances early, including the crossbar opportunity, but could not turn those moments into a goal against Sorokin. The Islanders, meanwhile, can take confidence from a home opener where their goaltending held firm and their offense kept producing. New York will look to carry that combination into its next game.
Watch the Highlights
Watch the official NHL highlights for the key chances, Sorokin’s 37-save shutout and Holmstrom’s late short-handed goal. The video captures the Islanders’ home-opening win over the Devils at UBS Arena.
Final Score: New York Islanders 6, New Jersey Devils 0.
Final Score: New York Islanders 6, New Jersey Devils 0.
Source: NHL highlights transcript + NHL match data