Islanders secure second consecutive victory with thrilling 4-3 win over Panthers

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — The astounding performance of Ilya Sorokin, who stopped 43 shots, combined with Julien Gauthier’s early third-period goal, secured a thrilling 4-3 victory for the Islanders in their intense face-off with the Florida Panthers on Saturday.

Brock Nelson and Bo Horvat showcased their exceptional skills, each contributing two assists for the Islanders, who played without Mathew Barzal, with Gauthier also delivering a two-point performance. Sorokin’s stellar display marked the fourth time this season that he made at least 40 saves.

Florida’s Carter Verhaeghe showed his prowess with a goal and an assist, and teammates Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Reinhart also found the back of the net. Anthony Stolarz made 22 saves for the Panthers, but it wasn’t enough to secure the win.

The Islanders have been on a roll, winning five of their last seven games after enduring a five-game losing streak. They have managed to secure at least one point in eight of their last nine contests, showing their resilience and determination.

Additionally, New York triumphed on Florida’s home turf for the first time in their last four visits to Sunrise. This victory was particularly sweet after suffering three consecutive losses at the Panthers’ arena, where they were outscored 14-3.

Despite their recent success, the Panthers saw their three-game point streak come to an end following the regulation loss to the Islanders. They returned home after a successful road trip in Canada, but will have to regroup before facing the Dallas Stars on Wednesday.

The game also saw an impressive scoring spree, with Lee opening the scoring and Reinhart responding just over a minute later. Pierre Engvall and Simon Holmstrom also found the back of the net for the Islanders, contributing to their hard-earned victory.

The win marks the end of a challenging stretch for the Islanders, who played eight of their last 10 games on the road. They are now looking forward to a six-game homestand, providing an opportunity to showcase their skills on home ice.

UP NEXT

Islanders: Host San Jose on Tuesday.

Panthers: Host Dallas on Wednesday.