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)

NEW YORK (AP) — Thousands of nurses in three hospital systems in New York City went on strike Monday after negotiations through the weekend failed to yield breakthroughs in their contract disputes.

The strike was taking place at The Mount Sinai Hospital and two of its satellite campuses, with picket lines forming. The other affected hospitals are NewYork-Presbyterian and Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx.

About 15,000 nurses are involved in the strike, according to New York State Nurses Association.

The strike, which comes during a severe flu season, could potentially force the hospitals to transfer patients, cancel procedures or divert ambulances. It could also put a strain on city hospitals not involved in the contract dispute, as patients avoid the medical centers hit by the strike.

The hospitals involved have been hiring temporary nurses to try and fill the labor gap during the walkout, and said in a statement during negotiations that they would “do whatever is necessary to minimize disruptions.” Montefiore posted a message assuring patients that appointments would be kept.

The work stoppage is occurring at multiple hospitals simultaneously, but each medical center is negotiating with the union independently. Several other hospitals across the city and in its suburbs reached deals in recent days to avert a possible strike.

The nurses’ demands vary by hospital, but the major issues include staffing levels and workplace safety. The union says hospitals have given nurses unmanageable workloads.

Nurses also want better security measures in the workplace, citing incidents like a an incident last week, when a man with a sharp object barricaded himself in a Brooklyn hospital room and was then killed by police.

The union also wants limitations on hospitals’ use of artificial intelligence.

The nonprofit hospitals involved in the negotiations say they’ve been working to improve staffing levels, but say the union’s demands overall are too costly.

Nurses voted to authorize the strike last month.

Both New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani had expressed concern about the possibility of the strike. As the strike deadline neared, Mamdani urged both sides to keep negotiating and reach a deal that “both honors our nurses and keeps our hospitals open.”

“Our nurses kept this city alive through its hardest moments. Their value is not negotiable,” Mamdani said.

The last major nursing strike in the city was only three years ago, in 2023. That work stoppage, at Mount Sinai and Montefiore, was short, lasting three days. It resulted in a deal raising pay 19% over three years at those hospitals.

It also led to promised staffing improvements, though the union and hospitals now disagree about how much progress has been made, or whether the hospitals are retreating from staffing guarantees.

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

FILE - A medical worker transports a patient at Mount Sinai Hospital, April 1, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)