Sorokin makes 23 saves, Gatcomb gets 1st NHL goal as Islanders top Flyers 3-0 for 6th straight win

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Ilya Sorokin made 23 saves for his third shutout of the season, Marc Gatcomb scored his first NHL goal and the New York Islanders won their sixth straight game with a 3-0 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night.

Simon Holmstrom and Kyle Palmieri also scored for the Islanders, who leapfrogged the Flyers and the idle New York Rangers in the Metropolitan Division standings and are three points out of a wild-card spot.

It was the 21st career shutout for Sorokin, who won his fifth straight game and has allowed just four goals in that span. New York has outscored opponents 21-7 during its streak.

The Flyers were blanked for the second consecutive game. Ivan Fedotov made 25 saves for Philadelphia.

Islanders: New York has been relying on its defense and goaltending during its January resurgence. The Islanders have held their opponents to two goals or fewer in 10 of 12 games this month.

Flyers: Philadelphia’s offense has been scuffling as they scored two goals or fewer for the fifth time in the last six games.

Flyers rookie Matvei Michkov thought he had a power-play goal to put the Flyers ahead in the first period, but it was overturned when New York coach Patrick Roy challenged the play for goaltender interference. It was determined Morgan Frost grazed Sorokin and impeded his ability to make a save.

Michkov later got into a screaming match on the bench with coach John Tortorella following a defensive breakdown. Michkov was benched for the final eight minutes of the second period and the entire third period.

Tortorella coached in his 1,600th game, the seventh in NHL history to reach that milestone and the first American-born coach to do so.

Islanders: Travel to Tampa Bay on Saturday.

Flyers: Off until Sunday when they visit Colorado.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Philadelphia Flyers' Travis Sanheim, right, collides with New York Islanders' Mathew Barzal during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia Flyers' Noah Cates, right, collides with New York Islanders' Adam Pelech during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

New York Islanders' Jean-Gabriel Pageau (44) tries to get a shot past Philadelphia Flyers' Ivan Fedotov (82) and Rasmus Ristolainen (55) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia Flyers' Ivan Fedotov waits to warm up before an NHL hockey game against the New York Islanders, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia Flyers' Ivan Fedotov waits to warm up before an NHL hockey game against the New York Islanders, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia Flyers' Adam Ginning, right, tries to get the puck away from New York Islanders' Brock Nelson during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

New York Islanders' Maxim Tsyplakov, right, and Philadelphia Flyers' Scott Laughton fight during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia Flyers' Garnet Hathaway, Rodrigo Abols and Travis Sanheim battle against New York Islanders' Tony DeAngelo, Ilya Sorokin, Kyle MacLean Alexander Romanov and Marc Gatcomb during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

New York Islanders' Marc Gatcomb, right, celebrates past Philadelphia Flyers' Joel Farabee after scoring a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

New York Islanders' Ilya Sorokin blocks a shot during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — Defending champion Gael Monfils lost his opening match at the ATP Tour stop in Auckland, New Zealand on Tuesday, three days after his wife Elina Svitolina won her 19th WTA Tour title on the same court.

The 39-year-old Frenchman lost 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 to 26-year-old Hungarian Fabian Marozsan at the ASB Classic in what may be the first match of his farewell season.

Monfils won the Auckland title in 2025 and told his wife Elina before her final on Sunday “if you don’t win this year I don’t know what to tell you anymore.” Svitolina and Monfils are one of only a few husband and wife teams to have held ATP and WTA singles titles in the same tournament at the same time.

Monfils started strongly in his first tournament since September, winning the first set with a break in the 11th game. He sent down 10 aces in the match. Monfils lost his first service game in the second set as Marozsan pulled off two superb winners at the net and went on to lose the set 6-3.

Monfils put up a great fight in the third set. After dropping his serve in the fifth game, he broke back immediately and tested Marozsan with his power variation. But Marozsan achieved the crucial break at 5-4 and held to take the match in exactly two hours.

“It's always special to play against Gael. He's a legend and a great player,” Marozsan said.

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Elina Svitolina of Ukraine stands with her husband, French tennis player Gael Monfils, after defeating Wang Xinju of China in the women's single final of the ASB Classic women's tennis tournament in Auckland, New Zealand on Sunday 11 Jan. 2026. (Alan Lee/Photosport via AP)