Islanders blank Penguins 2-0 behind rookie Sorokin

Oliver Wahlstrom and Jean-Gabriel Pageau each scored power-play goals and rookie Ilya Sorokin made 20 saves as the New York Islanders finished a strong February with a 2-0 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday night.

The Islanders went 8-2-2 during February, with all four losses coming against the Penguins — who they were playing for sixth time in the month. The Islanders remained the only team in the league without a regulation loss at home, with a 7-0-2 mark at Nassau Coliseum.

New York Islanders center Jean-Gabriel Pageau, center, celebrates with teammates Josh Bailey, left, and Brock Nelson, right, after scoring a goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021, in Uniondale, N.Y. (AP PhotoKathy Willens)

The 25-year-old Sorokin made his fifth start for the Islanders and recorded his second win, both shutouts. His first victory was Feb. 16 at Buffalo. It was the first time the Penguins were shut out in 20 games this season.

Wahlstrom put the Islanders ahead at 19:20 of the first with his third goal of the season, blasting a one-timer over the left shoulder of Casey DeSmith on the power play.

Wahlstrom, the Islanders' 2018 first-round pick, has become a lineup mainstay in recent weeks. The 6-foot-2 right wing extended his points streak to four games with the goal, while Nick Leddy’s assist was his eighth in the last eight games. Leddy leads the Islanders with 13 assists. Josh Bailey also assisted.

New York Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield (24) slips in front of Pittsburgh Penguins center Zach Aston-Reese (12) and Islanders right wing Jordan Eberle (7) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021, in Uniondale, N.Y. (AP PhotoKathy Willens)

The Islanders outshot the Penguins 9-2 in the opening period.

Pageau made it 2-0 at 14:56 of the second with his ninth goal, also on the power-play. Wahlstrom and Bailey assisted. Pageau is tied with Islanders captain Anders Lee for the team lead in goals.

The Islanders held a 16-8 shots advantage in the second period, while the Penguins outshot them 10-4 in the third.

New York Islanders center Brock Nelson (29) reacts after Islanders center Jean-Gabriel Pageau (44) scored a goal against Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Casey DeSmith (1) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021, in Uniondale, N.Y. Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Cody Ceci (4) is at right. (AP PhotoKathy Willens)

DeSmith started for the Penguins for the first time since defeating the Islanders 4-3 in a shootout on Feb. 11 at Nassau Coliseum. DeSmith made 27 saves.

The contest was played with the same crisp playoff-quality pace as Saturday’s game which the Penguins won 4-3 on an overtime goal by high-scoring defenseman Kris Letang.

The Penguins beat the Islanders twice at home this month. The teams meet twice more in Pittsburgh in late March during this abbreviated 56-game season in which teams in the eight-team East are playing divisional opponents eight times.

Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) uses his stick to fend off New York Islanders left wing Anthony Beauvillier (18) during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021, in Uniondale, N.Y. (AP PhotoKathy Willens)

Despite the loss Sunday, the Penguins are 7-2-3 in their last 11 games against the Islanders.

CROSBY AND MALKIN

Though he was quiet Sunday in what could have been his last game at Nassau Coliseum, Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has 120 points (38 goals and 82 assists) in 73 career games against Islanders. That is the most for an active player against any single team. The Penguins are 45-19-9 in those games. Teammate Evgeni Malkin has 84 points in 70 career games against Islanders, second-most among active players against one opponent.

New York Islanders center Mathew Barzal (13) skates with the puck in front of Pittsburgh Penguins center Jared McCann (19) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021, in Uniondale, N.Y. (AP PhotoKathy Willens)

IRON MEN

The Islanders have four players with active game streaks of at least 200 games: Lee (289), Brock Nelson (266), Mathew Barzal (253) and Ryan Pulock with 216. All have appeared in every game since Barry Trotz became the Islanders coach to start the 2018-19 season. Lee’s streak is the third-longest in team history behind Bob Nystrom at 301 and Billy Harris who leads with 576.

BUSY SCHEDULE

New York Islanders left wing Michael Dal Colle (28) and right-wing Oliver Wahlstrom (26) watch as Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Casey DeSmith (1) deflects the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021, in Uniondale, N.Y. (AP PhotoKathy Willens)

The Islanders are early in a stretch of contests in which they are slated to play 19 games in 33 days for the first time in franchise history. They are 2-0-1 so far.

UP NEXT

Islanders: Visiting the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday.

New York Islanders Oliver Wahlstrom (26) skates past the Pittsburgh Penguins bench after scoring on a power play at the end of the first period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021, in Uniondale, N.Y. (AP PhotoKathy Willens)

Penguins: Hosting Philadelphia on Tuesday in the first of three home games in five days against Flyers.

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