New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (30) tends net against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the first period at UBS Arena. Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Islanders' Ilya Sorokin makes franchise history with latest shutout

By Mike J. Asti | Last updated Mar 22, 2026 10:57 PM ET

A big reason why the New York Islanders have contended this season has been the play in net by goaltender Ilya Sorokin. And as New York was in desperate need of a win any way they could get it on Sunday, Sorokin stood on his head and blanked the Columbus Blue Jackets.

With the Islanders entering the day coming off back-to-back losses, including a rough 7-3 defeat to the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday, the pressure was on Sorokin to step up. He did that and then some, stopping all 26 shots sent his way against a Blue Jackets team that had won four in a row.

Ilya Sorokin made history with his latest shutout

Sorokin's latest shutout did more than allow New York to keep pace in the Eastern Conference's highly contested playoff picture; it made franchise history.

His seventh shutout of the 2025-26 season made Sorokin the only goalie in Islanders history to ever register seven shutouts in two separate seasons.

ILYA. SOROKIN.

With tonight’s shutout, Sorokin becomes the only goalie in #Isles history with 7 shutouts in two separate seasons. pic.twitter.com/OnT3wC92gt
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) March 23, 2026

Sorokin, 30, also posted seven shutouts during the 2021-22 season, following that year up with six in 2022-23, the lone All-Star campaign of his career.

There are 11 games left on the schedule for Sorokin to try to find one more shutout for a new single-season best.

Ilya Sorokin has been helping the Islanders keep pace in the East

More important than his shutout record, Sorokin is now five wins away from tying his personal best of 31 from 2022-23. Advancing his personal record to 26-17-2, Sorokin now has a 2.53 goals against average and a .913 save % in 45 games.

As a team, the Islanders are now 40-26-5, evening up point total with the Blue Jackets to 85. Two of the Islanders' next three opponents are out of the playoff picture, too.

New York will meet the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night, and then the Florida Panthers on Saturday, with a battle against the Dallas Stars sandwiched in between those games on Thursday.

Mike J. Asti

Mike Asti is an experienced media personality and journalist with a vast resume and skillset, most notably from time with TribLIVE Radio and WPXI-TV. Asti now serves as the Managing Editor of WV Sports Now, where he leads the coverage of WVU sports. He has also covered the Steelers, Penguins, Pirates and other teams within the Pittsburgh market

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